Dysphonia in very preterm children: A review of the evidence

Introduction: Intubation is a known risk factor for dysphonia yet is essential in the perinatal care of many very preterm infants. Children born preterm, who are frequently resuscitated with endotracheal intubation, may be at risk of dysphonia at school age and beyond. Objectives: To identify and describe the evidence pertaining to long-term voice outcomes and risk factors for developing dysphonia in preterm children. Results: In addition to case studies and series, three larger-scale studies have reported on dysphonia and voice outcomes in preterm children. Studies reporting treatment outcomes were not available. Factors associated with poor voice outcomes included female gender, birth weight