Cry characteristics of 172 healthy 1-to 7-day-old infants.

A total of 1,836 cry signals from 172 healthy babies, 1-7 days old, were analysed with sound spectrography. The mean values for the 8-15 cries from each infant were calculated and used for the statistical analyses. The mean duration of the cry signals was 1.4 +/- 0.6 s. The mean fundamental frequency was 496 +/- 95 cps (Hz). Fifty percent of the mean fundamental frequencies in the 8-15 cries analysed from each baby varied between 450 and 520 Hz. Of the children, 93% had cries with a mean fundamental frequency below 600 Hz. The mean value of the highest point of the fundamental frequency was 583 +/- 151 Hz and of the lowest point 398 +/- 75 Hz. The melody type had mainly a rising-falling contour, though the difference between the highest and the lowest point was often rather small. There were no significant differences noted in the cry characteristics according to gender, the age of the infants or the gestational age when they were born. Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel