Phonetic Analysis of Snoring: A Novel Approach to Assessing Pediatric Palatine Tonsil Hypertrophy
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Abstract
Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children is primarily caused by upper airway obstruction, with palatine tonsil and adenoid hypertrophy being the most common contributors. While polysomnography is the gold standard for diagnosis, its high cost limits its accessibility, necessitating alternative screening methods. This study investigates the correlation between commonly used subjective grading of palatine tonsil hypertrophy, actual tonsil volume, and phonetic characteristics of snoring to explore the potential of snoring analysis as a diagnostic tool.
Methods: A total of 21 pediatric patients (aged 4–15) undergoing tonsillectomy due to snoring symptoms were enrolled. Preoperative assessment included medical history collection, physical examination, and lateral neck X-rays. Palatine tonsil hypertrophy was evaluated using the Brodsky tonsil grade scale, and tonsil volume and weight were measured postoperatively. Snoring sounds were recorded preoperatively and analyzed for intensity and formant frequencies using Praat software. Statistical analyses, including linear and multiple regression models, were performed to determine correlations between tonsil size, snoring characteristics, and BMI.
Results:Although tonsil volume showed a general increasing trend with Brodsky tonsil grade, the correlation was not statistically significant. Snoring intensity did not correlate with tonsil volume, weight, or adenoid index, but a significant positive correlation with BMI was observed (β=0.465, p=0.025). Notably, formant frequency analysis revealed a significant inverse correlation between palatine tonsil volume and the first (F1) and second (F2) formants (p=0.011 and p=0.002, respectively), reflecting anatomical airway changes due to hypertrophy.
Conclusion:This study highlights the potential of phonetic analysis of snoring, particularly formant frequency analysis, as a screening tool for pediatric snoring patients. While subjective grading of tonsil hypertrophy did not show strong statistical correlation with actual volume, formant frequency analysis provided valuable insights into airway structure changes. Further studies with larger sample sizes and controlled variables are needed to validate the clinical utility of snoring analysis as a non-invasive screening method for pediatric OSA.