Voice Quality in Short Stature With and Without GH Deficiency

Objective. The aim of this study was to analyze the individual impact of short stature (SS) or untreated isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD) on voice quality and the influence of IGHD on voice aging. Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 73 adults: 33 IGHD, 10 SS, and 30 normal controls (CO), by evaluating vocal perception using Voice-Related Quality-of-Life (V-RQOL) scores and fundamental frequency (f(0)). Analysis of variance with Bonferroni post-test was used to compare groups, and the Student t test was used to verify the influence of aging. Results. Stature of the SS and IGHD groups was similarly reduced in comparison to CO. Cephalic perimeter (CP) in SS males was larger than CO (P < 0.05), and this was larger than in IGHD (P < 0.0001). CP was similar in SS and CO females, and both were larger than in IGHD (P < 0.0001). V-RQOL scores were lower in IGHD than in SS and CO. f(0) (Hz) was similar in IGHD females and SS and higher than in CO (P < 0.05). f(0) of IGHD males was higher than in SS (P = 0.01) and CO (P = 0.001). IGHD abolished the effect of aging on f(0) exhibited by CO. Conclusions. Lower vocal perception and higher f(0) were found in IGHD in comparison to CO in both genders; in comparison to SS, higher f(0) was only found in IGHD males. Because SS males have higher CP than IGHD, this suggests that CP and craniofacial growth can influence voice in IGHD. Finally, IGHD seems to abolish the effects of aging on voice.