Abstract
In the present study, we examined the relationship between prevalence of hoarseness and sports activities in 1,384 children who received health checks at their elementary or junior high schools. The prevalence of hoarseness was higher in boys (17.7%) than in girls (5.2%). At the elementary school level, boys had higher risk of hoarseness than girls. The prevalence of hoarseness in boys was high until the third grade and then turned to a decreasing trend. In girls, the prevalence of hoarseness was high until the second grade, here again followed by a decreasing trend, but at the junior high school level their rate turned high again in second and third year students. With senior elementary school boys, the prevalence of hoarseness was 21.2% with sports activities and 4.9% without sports activities, and was significantly higher than the corresponding 5.8% with sports and 0.6% without sports in senior elementary school girls. In junior elementary school boys, baseball was accompanied by a significantly high risk of hoarseness (odds ratio: 2.88), while in senior elementary school boys, playing baseball (odds ratio: 2.92) or soccer (odds ratio: 2.29) brought significant high risk of hoarseness. These results suggest that outdoor team sports associated with strong glottal closure at kicking, batting or vocalizing, such as baseball and soccer, lead to the development of hoarseness in elementary school boys. We concluded that voice hygiene education is needed for boys who play baseball or soccer to prevent the development of hoarseness.
