Voice Abnormalities at School Age in Children Born Extremely Preterm

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Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Voice abnormality is a frequent finding in school age children born at P = .002) and for girls relative to boys (odds ratio 3.46, 95% confidence interval 1.12–10.62, P = .030). Tube size and duration of intubation were not significant in the multivariable model. Median scores of parent-reported voice quality of life on the Pediatric Voice Handicap Index were markedly different for preterm (22) and term (3) groups, P < .001. CONCLUSIONS: Voice disorders in this population were much more frequent than expected. Further studies are required to assess voice across a broader range of gestational ages, and to investigate voice-protective strategies in infants requiring multiple episodes of intubation.

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