Summary
Vocal fold nodules (VNs) in children are benign, bilateral lesions occurring on the
mid-membranous vocal folds. Repetitive phonotraumatic behavior leading to chronic
vocal fold injury and repair is frequently cited as the primary etiology; however,
specific behavioral characteristics may predispose some children toward intense and
potentially phonotraumatic voice use, thereby contributing secondarily to VN formation.
The purpose of this case-control study was to determine whether children with VNs
possess unique behavioral characteristics that may predispose them to VN development.
Parents of 26 children with VNs (20 boys, 6 girls, mean age = 7.2 years, SD = 2.5
years), and 29 vocally normal, medical controls (22 boys, 7 girls, mean age = 6.7
years, SD = 2.4), completed the Childhood Behavior Checklist (CBCL/4-18, Achenbach,
1991), a standardized parent-rating scale with strong psychometric properties. No
significant between-group differences were detected on any of the behavior problem
syndrome scales. Group differences approached significance for the individual items
“screams a lot” and “teases a lot” (VN group > Controls). The VN group scored significantly
higher than the controls on the “Social Scale,” a compilation of positive ratings
of the child's social activity, frequency of contacts with friends, behavior with
others, and behavior by themselves. Observed outcomes were consistent with previous
characterizations of children with VN as “outgoing” or “extroverted” but were not
consistent with other claims that this population may be at risk for “aggressive,”
“attentional,” or “impulsive” behavior problems.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 14, 2006
Accepted:
November 14,
2005
∗†Salt Lake City, UtahIdentification
Copyright
© 2007 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
