Acoustic analysis of infant cry using multidimensional voice program―a preliminary study

Crying is the only communication means that the baby has in the first month of life. It is expected that some aspects of the infant cry sound can be directly related to neurological deficits or damage, as well as to genetic anomalies and respiratory problems. Assessment of infant cry is a powerful screening tool to evaluate the neurological status of the newborn within its early biosocial context. However, till date it is not clear how acoustic analysis of cry using the Multi-Dimensional Voice Program (MDVP) will serve as a marker in differentiating the normal cry from the abnormal cry especially when birth cry is analysed for the purpose.