Acoustic Voice Analysis in Children with Speech Sound Disorder and Intellectual Disability

Abstract

Purpose This study was conducted to analyze the acoustic differences associated with the presence of speech sound disorder (SSD) and/or cognitive ability. Methods Medical records from 2016 to 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The study included children aged 4 to 8 years who had undergone developmental assessments. Based on the assessment results, participants were divided into three groups: children with SSD without intellectual disability (ID), children with SSD and ID, and typically developing (TD) children. Voices were analyzed using the Multidimensional Voice Program (MDVP). Results The average ages of children with SSD, those with SSD and ID, and those categorized as TD were 61.0±11.4, 62.3±10.7, and 64.2±9.4 months, respectively (P=0.482). The proportion of children with SSD and ID who also had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder was significantly higher (53.3%) than in the other groups (P=0.010). In the MDVP analysis, among values related to fundamental frequency, the number of segments computed was significantly lower in children with SSD and ID compared to the other groups (SSD, 25.0; SSD with ID, 17.0; TD, 19.0; P=0.001). Similarly, the total number of pitch periods detected was significantly lower among those with both SSD and ID (SSD, 230.0; SSD with ID, 152.5; TD, 187.0; P=0.001). No other parameters significantly differed across groups. Conclusion Acoustic analysis can reflect voice changes in children with SSD and ID compared to both those with SSD and TD children. Therefore, voice analysis may serve as a supportive screening tool for patients with SSD.

Keywords

• speech sound disorder
• intellectual disability
• voice
• child