Characteristics of a Dysphonic Population Referred for Voice Assessment and/or Voice Therapy.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to define patient characteristics of a dysphonic population in terms of voice disorder, gender, age, and subjective and objective vocal parameters and to explore the relevant characteristics of the most frequent groups of voice disorders.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Patient records from 4,447 subjects referred for voice assessment and/or voice therapy were analyzed.

RESULTS

Significantly more cases of dysphonia were structural as compared to nonstructural. This significant difference was found in almost all age groups. Significantly more women were diagnosed with dysphonia than men. The most common symptom was light-to-moderate hoarseness. The average voice handicap index was 31 and the average dysphonia severity index was -0.6. Vocal fold nodules (VFN), functional voice disorders (FVD) and vocal fold paralysis (VFP) were the three most frequently diagnosed vocal pathologies and were analyzed in detail. Women were found to be significantly more vulnerable to FVD, VFN and cysts, whereas men were significantly more often diagnosed with carcinoma, hyperkeratosis, laryngitis, papillomatosis, presbyphonia, puberphonia and VFP.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study allow a better estimation of the clinical needs and costs for a specific dysphonic population looking for help and highlight the gender-related risks of specific voice disorders.