Abnormal laryngeal vocal quality in ectodermal dysplasia
S. J. Peterson-Falzone, D. D. Caldarelli and K. L. Landahl
Breathy vocal quality was verified in five of nine patients with the
ectrodactyly--ectodermal dysplasia--cleft palate syndrome, nine of 15
patients with either suspected or confirmed anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia
(one case of partial expression), and one of two siblings with the
Rapp-Hodgkin form of ectodermal dysplasia. Indirect laryngoscopy in eight
of the breathy patients failed to show phonatory glottal chinks or any
overt laryngeal pathologic conditions, but it did indicate absence of a
normal mucosal covering of the folds. Limited spectrographic studies
disclosed widely spaced voicing striations and also suggested prolonged
voice onset times. Patients who exhibit breathy vocal quality in the
presence of one of these ectodermal dysplasias should be counseled with
regard to the advisability of longitudinal care and the avoidance of
habitual use of increased vocal effort level.