Voice and resonance disorders in genetic syndromes: A meta-analysis

It is well known that many genetic syndromes are associated with communication disorders and especially with disorders of voice and resonance. This paper reports the results of a meta-analysis with the aim of documenting the occurrence of voice and resonance disorders in genetic syndromes. The analysis studied the occurrence of voice and resonance disorders in general, the occurrence in different etiological subtypes of syndromes and the association with other disorders, in particular clefting, a cognitive impairment and hearing problems. The database for the analysis was a list by Sphrintzen of 299 different syndromes all of which have been reported to entail communication disorders. Major findings are that disorders of voice and resonance in genetic syndromes are only rarely isolated problems, that causal mechanisms are not a major factor in determining the presence of voice and resonance disorders and, foremost, that voice and resonance disorders in genetic syndromes constitute an underresearched area. Copyright (C) 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel.