Voice disorders in children

Our voice plays several roles in communication.

It is such a powerful tool used by us to communicate with each other.

One can identify someone just by hearing their voice.

It conveys a significant amount of information about the speaker to the listener.

Feelings such as happiness, love, sadness and disappointment are reflected in our voice.

The quality of a person’s voice can signal a voice disorder, especially when it is different from what is expected.

Voice disorders are quite common in children. While most voice disorders are harmless and may disappear by themselves, others may need treatment by specialists.

Causes

The organs responsible for the production of speech are the vocal chords/folds, tongue, lips, lower jaw, teeth, palate and the lungs.

Voice is produced by the vibration of the vocal cords in the larynx.

First, the lungs collect air.

This air travels in the windpipe towards the larynx, where the vocal cords are.

The vocal cords/folds close.

The air causes the vocal cords/folds surface to vibrate. Voice disorders often involve problems with the vocal cords/folds.

Voice disorders in children are often caused by excessive shouting or loud talking, excessive use of harsh voice during play or common childhood infections (such as a cold, cough). Meanwhile, some medical conditions can also cause voice disorders in children.

Signs

When a child has a voice disorder, their voice may sound different.

Their voice may sound harsh or hoarse, too high or too low, too loud or too quiet, or they may appear to have ‘lost’ their voice completely or seem as if they are speaking through a blocked nose.

Help

While most voice disorders in children are harmless and may disappear by themselves, some may need help with a specialist.

Specialists who may help children with voice disorders include Ear, Nose and Throat specialists and Speech and Language Therapists.

To help your child take care of their voice, encourage them to get closer (appropriately) to a person when talking to them, to avoid yelling or screaming or excessive shouting, to rest their voice for short periods during the day, and praise them when they use their gentle voice.

Avoiding dusty, smoky and polluted environments can also help to maintain a good voice.

Anxiety and stress can sometimes have an impact on children’s voices and it is helpful to find out the cause or seek help from a child psychologist if you notice increased anxiety or stress in your child.

The writer is a Speech and Language Therapist/Clinical Tutor
University of Ghana