Summary
Bilateral (quasi) symmetrical lesions of the anterior third of the vocal folds, commonly
called vocal fold nodules (VFNs) are the most frequent vocal fold lesions in childhood
caused by vocal abuse and hyperfunction. This study evaluates their long-term genesis
with or without surgery and voice therapy. A group of 91 postmutational adolescents
(mean age, 16 years), in whom VFNs were diagnosed in childhood, were questioned to
analyze the evolution of their complaints. Thirty four of them could be clinically
reexamined by means of the European Laryngological Society-protocol, including a complete
laryngological investigation and voice assessment. A total of 21% of the questioned
group (n = 91) had voice complaints persisting into postpubescence with a statistically
significant difference (P ≤ 0.001) between boys (8%) and girls (37%). VFNs were still present in 47% of the
girls and 7% of the boys of the clinically evaluated group (n = 34). Analysis of the
data before and after puberty shows that the variables gender, allergy, and degree
of dysphonia (“G”) in childhood enable a fairly correct prediction of persisting voice
complaints in adolescence (sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 67%). The results
of this study show a clearly different evolution for both sexes, with significant
higher long-term risks for dysphonic girls with allergy.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
November 18,
2005
∗Antwerp, †Gent, and ‡Turnhout, BelgiumIdentification
Copyright
© 2007 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
