: Researchers found that screams differ from normal speech not just by volume or pitch, but by a quality called roughness . This refers to rapid changes in volume (between 30 and 150 Hz) that target the amygdala, the brain's fear center, to trigger an immediate alarm response.

: Known as "hyperphonated" cries, these can jump above 1,000 Hz and even reach 2,000 Hz , indicating extreme distress or underlying neurological conditions. Recommended Academic Papers

The study of "child scream" audio effects generally falls into three categories:

: Fundamental frequencies usually range from 400 to 650 Hz .

If you are looking for a high-quality academic source on the "audio effect" of a child's scream (how it is structured and why it affects us), the most relevant paper is the 2015 study published in titled "Human Screams Occupy a Privileged Niche in the Communication Soundscape," which explores an acoustic property called "roughness". Key Scientific Insights from the Research