Study on Treatments Used for Vocal Nodules in Children Investigation by Questionnaires to ENT Specialists

Abstract

Vocal nodules are common phonatory disorders in children. Etiologically, it is generally believed that higher pitched voice exertion resulting in mechanical trauma is often a causative factor. Children suffering from such lesions have been treated in many ways, including medical treatments, vocal hygiene or surgery. In order to clarify the status of treatments currently used for vocal nodules in children, we sent questionnaires to 102 ENT specialists. We received 62 replies. According to the results of the questionnaires, few active surgical treatments for vocal nodules in children are performed. Many ENT specialists select more conservative treatments for reasons such as spontaneous healing or high recurrence rates. Many vocal nodules are microlaryngosurgically resected under general anesthesia. A large number of ENT surgeons use operating knife and forceps for microlaryngeal surgery to resect the vocal nodules. The results suggest conservative therapy should be selected as the first that treatment for boys, because spontaneous healing can be expected to some extent. In girls, microlaryngeal surgery should be selected at any age. © 1990, The Japan Society of Logopedics and Phoniatrics. All rights reserved.