Understanding voice disorders in children with vocal fold nodules
Official title: Intelligibility and dysphonia in children with vocal fold nodules
Funded at Temple Univ of the Commonwealth · NIH-11042875 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how voice problems, like nodules on the vocal cords, affect how clearly children aged 3 to 9 can be understood when they talk, with the goal of helping them speak more clearly rather than just fixing their voice issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Temple Univ of the Commonwealth NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $198,125 |
| NIH project number | 5R21DC021248-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11042875 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 3 to 9 years who have been diagnosed with vocal fold nodules and experience dysphonia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients outside the age range of 3 to 9 years or those without vocal fold nodules may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how voice disorders, specifically dysphonia caused by vocal fold nodules, affect children's speech intelligibility. It aims to shift the focus from just reducing dysphonia to improving how well children can be understood when they speak. By analyzing speech samples from children aged 3 to 9 years collected from leading pediatric voice centers, the study will explore the relationship between vocal quality and speech clarity. This approach recognizes that children have unique developmental needs and may require different therapeutic goals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments that enhance speech clarity in children with voice disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that focusing on speech intelligibility can lead to improved outcomes in children with voice disorders, suggesting this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Heller Murray, Elizabeth Salmon — Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
- Study coordinator: Heller Murray, Elizabeth Salmon
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.