Phonatory function and characteristics of voice in recovering COVID-19 survivors.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the phonatory function of recovered COVID-19 survivors. The universal outbreak of COVID-19 led to the occurrence of otolaryngological manifestations that raised concerns about the assessment of the phonatory function in recovering patients. METHODS: This is a prospective, cross-sectional, case-controlled study carried out on 364 laboratory-confirmed non-critical COVID-19 survivors and 100 as healthy controls. The study participants were classified into two groups according to the disease severity. Group1 comprised 212 survivors who recovered from pneumonia and group 2 was made up of 152 survivors of severe pneumonia. All patients were subjected to an auditory perceptual assessment of the voice (APA) and Maximum Phonation Time (MPT) measurements. RESULTS: Phonasthenic manifestations were significantly more frequent in COVID-19 survivors than in controls (P < 0.000) with a higher percentage recorded among severe pneumonia survivors (87.5%) than among pneumonia survivors (60.8%) with a P value of < 0.01. Dysphonia and excessively soft loudness were significantly more common among survivors than among controls (P < 0.002 and P < 0.000, respectively) with no significant difference between the patient groups. The MPT was significantly shorter among survivors than among controls (P < 0.000). The mean MPT was 15.97 s in the control group, 10.72 s in the pneumonia group, and 8.88 s in the severe pneumonia group, with the differences between the groups being statistically significant (P < 0.000), suggesting a higher impairment of lung volume and phonatory function in severe cases. CONCLUSIONS: Phonasthenia, dysphonia, and decreased MPT could be otolaryngological manifestations of COVID-19. Laryngeal function assessment should be considered in COVID-19 survivors.

Effect of iron deficiency anemia on language development in preschool Egyptian children.

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most common nutritional deficiency primarily in developing countries. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the effect of IDA on language development in preschool children. METHODOLOGY: The study is a multicenter, comparative cross-sectional study included 226 children between ages 4-6 years. The children were classified into two groups' anemic (patients) and non anemic (controls) according to the hemoglobin level. All anemic children subjected to complete iron study including; Serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), Serum ferritin level, to confirm the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia. Cognitive assessment was done using the Arabic translation Stanford Binet intelligence scale, version four which comprised of four cognitive area scores; visual reasoning, verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and short-term memory. Measurement of IQ and mental age were calculated for each child. Language evaluation was done using the Arabic Language test. Receptive language quotient, expressive language quotient and total language quotient were calculated for each child. RESULTS: 122 children were anemic and 90 were non-anemic with hemoglobin level 10.65 and 11.96 g/dL, respectively (P < 0.000). Anemic children had significantly lower serum ferritin (p < 0.0001), and serum iron (p < 0.0001) compared to the controls. Both groups were matched as regards age, sex, socioeconomic levels and parental educational level. No significant differences observed regarding IQ, mental age, receptive, expressive and total language quotients between anemic and non-anemic children. CONCLUSIONS: IDA does not seem to have an effect on language development in preschool Egyptian Children. Future large controlled studies with long follow-up time for the younger age group are needed to determine whether there are existent associations between IDA with language development.