Some tomographic aspects in functional voice disorders.
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Previous studies of students studying to be teachers have indicated that these students commonly have voice disorders. Ideally, voice disorders should be treated before students start their work as teachers, but the resources for this treatment are often limited. This study examines whether group voice therapy is effective for teacher students. Accordingly, 20 teacher students with mild voice disorders received group voice therapy (in three small groups), whereas 20 students with similar voice disorders served as a control group and consequently did not receive voice therapy. Two out of three outcome measures (perceptual evaluation of voice quality and a questionnaire on the occurrence of vocal symptoms) indicated significant changes in the treatment group compared with the control group. No differences between groups were noted in the laryngeal status. The results suggest that group voice therapy seems to be an effective method to treat students with mild voice disorders.
Forty consecutive patients with psychogenic voice disorder were studied prospectively to shed light on some problems of differential diagnosis met by the otolaryngologist. The females (n = 35) were on average younger than males (n = 5) (mean age 34.5 vs 51.8 years, respectively). Although an upper respiratory tract infection preceding the voice disorder was reported by no more than 25% of the patients, as many as 40% had been treated with antibiotics on one or more occasions. Other treatment and voice rest had been prescribed to a further 20% of the patients. The frequency rate of reported asthma/allergy-like symptoms (37.5) exceeded the incidence of asthma/allergy in the normal Swedish adult population. Minor laryngeal abnormalities found in 10 patients could be rejected as causative since they were inconsistent with the voice disturbance. In most of the patients (n = 27), vocal function returned to normal or improved after voice therapy combined with counselling. Vocal abnormalities remained unchanged in three patients. The patients who required multiple therapy sessions (n = 10) were older (mean age 48.8 years) and seemed to have more profound personal problems than the average. The findings suggest that psychogenic voice disorder may often be misdiagnosed as acute laryngitis or asthma/allergy. Restricted use of antibiotics and other drugs is to be recommended in the treatment of benign voice disorders.
Voice disorders are due to organic and functional disturbances of the voice generator, activator and resonator. They appear as a consequence of different factors which lead to the development of hoarseness, and may as well be the result of disturbed phonatory patterns. Phonatory patterns refer primarily to the muscular activity of the vocal system, which is delicately balanced within the voice generator, activator and resonator. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF HOARSENESS: Basic causes of hoarseness are insufficient glottic closure during phonation (glottal gap), changes in the vocal fold stiffness and imbalance in mechanical properties between the two folds. Glottal gap leads to the excessive air leakage during phonalion and insufficient conversion of the expiratory air into pulses. Turbulence of the expiratory air particles is increased, leading to the development of noise. Excessively stiff or tax vocal folds, both disturb the vibration process and lead to the development of noise and hoarseness. Imbalance in tension between the two folds, and especially in their mass, may lead to the glottal gap, with the consecutive noise and hoarseness. PHONATORY PATTERNS: Phonatory patterns refer to habitual movements of the vocal organs during phonation and speech, which are acquired during the process of learning phonation and speech. This is primarily the muscular activity of generator, activator and resonator of the voice, which is so balanced to produce the optimal voice quality with the least effort and fatigue. The activity of the phonatory organs is not well balanced in cases of voice disorders. That is the primary cause of functional voice disorders, and a very frequent consequence of organic voice disturbances. Hyperkinetic dysphonia is the most common type of disturbed phonatory patterns, characterized by excessive vocal effort, while hypokinetic dysphonia is rarely seen. The third type of functional disorders of the phonatory patterns is an incorrect placement of the voice (imposlatio falsa), which is characterized by an imbalanced muscular activity of the vocal organs, but within the normal limits concerning the overall amount of activity.
OBJECTIVE: To describe and evaluate psychosocial factors in nonorganic voice disorders (NVDs). Nonorganic voice disorders are presumed to be the result of increased muscular tension that is caused to varying extents by vocal misuse and emotional stress. It is therefore necessary to include both of these in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with voice disorders. DESIGN: Clinical survey. SETTING: Academic tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: To evaluate psychosocial factors in NVDs, a sample of 74 patients with NVDs was examined psychologically using the Giessen Test and Picture Frustration Test. The results were compared with a control group of 19 patients with an organic dysphonia (vocal cord paralysis). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Six scales of the Giessen Test (social response, dominance, control, underlying mood, permeability, and social potency), 3 reaction types of the Picture Frustration Test (obstacle dominance, ego defense, and need persistence), and 3 aggression categories of the Picture Frustration Test (extrapunitivity, intropunitivity, and impunitivity). RESULTS: The most striking significant difference between the 2 groups was that in conflict situations, patients with NVDs sought a quick solution or expected other people to provide one, which prevented them from understanding the underlying causes of the conflict. CONCLUSIONS: Only if the psychosocial aspects are taken into account can patients with NVD be offered a therapy that treats the causes of the voice disorder. It must be decided individually whether and when a voice training approach or a more psychological-psychotherapeutical approach is preferable.
Over 3 million teachers in the United States use their voice as a primary tool of trade and are thought to be at higher risk for occupation-related voice disorders than the general population. However, estimates regarding the prevalence of voice disorders in teachers and the general population vary considerably. To determine the extent that teachers are at greater risk for voice disorders, 2,531 randomly selected participants from Iowa and Utah (1,243 teachers and 1,288 nonteachers) were interviewed by telephone using a voice disorder questionnaire. Prevalence-the number of cases per population at risk at a specific time-was determined. The prevalence of reporting a current voice problem was significantly greater in teachers compared with nonteachers (11.0% vs. 6.2%), chi(2)(1) = 18.2, p <.001, as was the prevalence of voice disorders during their lifetime (57.7% for teachers vs. 28.8% for nonteachers), chi(2)(1) = 215.2, p <.001. Teachers were also significantly more likely than nonteachers to have consulted a physician or speech-language pathologist regarding a voice disorder (14.3% vs. 5.5%), chi(2)(1) = 55.3, p <.001. Women, compared with men, not only had a higher lifetime prevalence of voice disorders (46.3% vs. 36.9%), chi(2)(1) = 20.9, p <.001, but also had a higher prevalence of chronic voice disorders (>4 weeks in duration), compared with acute voice disorders (20.9% vs. 13.3%), chi(2)(1) = 8.7, p =.003. To assess the association between past voice disorders and possible risks, adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were estimated using multiple logistic regression. The results identified that being a teacher, being a woman, being between 40 and 59 years of age, having 16 or more years of education, and having a family history of voice disorders were each positively associated with having experienced a voice disorder in the past. These results support the notion that teaching is a high-risk occupation for voice disorders. Important information is also provided regarding additional factors that might contribute to the development of voice disorders.
This study examined the effect of voice disorders on judgments of personality and appearance. One-hundred-and-five college students evaluated the personality and appearance characteristics of 12 speakers, four with normal voice quality, four with harsh-breathy voice quality, and four with hypernasal voice quality. A semantic differential procedure was employed to obtain ratings on 12 bipolar adjectives. Results indicate a significant difference between the normal and disordered voices. Voice disorders elicit more negative responses on judgments of personality and appearance of the speaker. These findings indicate that voice disorders warrant correction.
Children with voice disorders do respond to treatment, with vocal hyperfunction being the predominant disorder on the caseload of the pediatric voice clinician. This article reviews the literature in describing what is known about these children and typical disorders, prevention of voice disorders, the need for treatment, the referral patterns of teachers and others, and typical management programs and their settings. Good online resources are offered and brief highlights about voice therapy with children are reviewed.
OBJECTIVES: Epidemiologic studies of the prevalence and risk factors of voice disorders in the general adult population are rare. The purpose of this investigation was to 1) determine the prevalence of voice disorders, 2) identify variables associated with increased risk of voice disorders, and 3) establish the functional impact of voice disorders on the general population. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional telephone survey. METHODS: A random sample (n = 1,326) of adults in Iowa and Utah was interviewed using a questionnaire that addressed three areas related to voice disorders: prevalence, potential risk factors, and occupational consequences/effects. RESULTS: The lifetime prevalence of a voice disorder was 29.9%, with 6.6% of participants reporting a current voice disorder. Stepwise logistic regression identified specific factors that uniquely contributed to increased odds of reporting a chronic voice disorder including sex (women), age (40-59 years), voice use patterns and demands, esophageal reflux, chemical exposures, and frequent cold/sinus infections. However, tobacco or alcohol use did not independently increase the odds of reporting of a chronic voice disorder. Voice disorders adversely impacted job performance and attendance, with 4.3% of participants indicating that their voice had limited or rendered them unable to do certain tasks in their current job. Furthermore, 7.2% of employed respondents reported that they were absent from work 1 or more days in the past year because of their voice, and 2% reported more than 4 days of voice-related absence. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this large epidemiologic study provide valuable information regarding the prevalence of voice disorders, factors that contribute to voice disorder vulnerability, and the functional impact of voice problems on the general population.
OBJECTIVES: We undertook to explore the relationship between non-neoplastic voice disorders and patients' quality of life. METHODS: A PubMed search (1966 to 2003) for the terms Voice Handicap Index (VHI), Short Form-36 (SF-36), voice disorders, voice quality, treatment outcome, voice outcome, quality of life, and questionnaires was performed. Raw data were obtained whenever possible. Studies were analyzed by meta-analysis techniques. RESULTS: Of 54 VHI studies identified, 11 were excluded, and of 21 SF-36 studies, 7 were excluded for incomplete data, non-English language, measuring malignant disease, or duplicate publication. Patients with neurologic and inflammatory or traumatic laryngeal disease had worse VHI scores than controls, and those with neurologic laryngeal disease had the most severe impairment (p < .001, Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance; p < .05, Dunn's method of multiple comparisons). Those with neurologic laryngeal disease had worse SF-36 subdomain scores than did controls in 6 of 8 subdomains (p < .03, Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance; p < .05, Dunn's method of multiple comparisons). Both patients with neurologic disease and patients with inflammatory or traumatic laryngeal disorders had changes in SF-36 subdomains similar to those of patients with other chronic disease states. CONCLUSIONS: Non-neoplastic voice disorders adversely impact patients' voice-related and general quality of life, and neurologic voice disorders have the greatest impact.
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Speech and voice disorders are very common among individuals suffering from idiopathic Parkinson's disease. In this article we review evidence for laryngeal, respiratory, articulatory, and velopharyngeal disorders in this population. We present the essential concepts and outcome data for the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment, a behavioral treatment program that has yielded significant long-term improvement in speech and voice functions in individuals with idiopathic Parkinson's disease.
Traditional clinical voice evaluation focuses primarily on the severity of voice impairment, with little emphasis on the impact of voice disorders on the individual's quality of life. This study reports the development of a 28-item assessment tool that evaluates the perception of voice problem, activity limitation, and participation restriction using the International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps-2 Beta-1 concept (World Health Organization, 1997). The questionnaire was administered to 40 subjects with dysphonia and 40 control subjects with normal voices. Results showed that the dysphonic group reported significantly more severe voice problems, limitation in daily voice activities, and restricted participation in these activities than the control group. The study also showed that the perception of a voice problem by the dysphonic subjects correlated positively with the perception of limitation in voice activities and restricted participation. However, the self-perceived voice problem had little correlation with the degree of voice-quality impairment measured acoustically and perceptually by speech pathologists. The data also showed that the aggregate scores of activity limitation and participation restriction were positively correlated, and the extent of activity limitation and participation restriction was similar in all except the job area. These findings highlight the importance of identifying and quantifying the impact of dysphonia on the individual's quality of life in the clinical management of voice disorders.
BACKGROUND: Occupational voice health is becoming more important as more people rely on their voices for their work. A number of studies have identified certain occupational groups at increased risk of developing occupational voice disorders, namely teachers, singers and aerobics instructors. Aim The paper aims to review the literature on occupational groups at risk of voice disorders and identify areas for future research. METHOD: A literature review of key databases using key words such as 'occupational', 'voice health', 'voice loss', 'dysphonia' and 'work related' was undertaken. RESULTS: The review identified case reports, studies of attendees at hospital voice clinics and a few cross-sectional studies of occupational groups in the workplace. There were no longitudinal studies found or intervention studies looking at reduction of risk. CONCLUSION: Further research on occupational voice disorders needs to be based in the workplace, and to look at the risk factors for the development of voice problems and for the efficacy of controls.
This article reviews the literature on the efficacy of treatment for voice disorders primarily using studies published in peer-reviewed journals. Voice disorders are defined, their frequency of occurrence across the life span is reported, and their impact on the lives of individuals with voice disorders is documented. The goal of voice treatment is to maximize vocal effectiveness given the existing disorder and to reduce the handicapping effect of the voice problem. Voice treatment may be (a) the preferred treatment to resolve the voice disorder when medical (surgical or pharmacological) treatments are not indicated; (b) the initial treatment in cases where medical treatment appears indicated; it may obviate the need for medical treatment; (c) completed before and after surgical treatment to maximize long-term post-surgical voice; and (d) a preventative treatment to preserve vocal health. Experimental and clinical data are reviewed that support these roles applied to various disorder types: (a) vocal misuse, hyperfunction and muscular imbalance (frequently resulting in edema, vocal nodules, polyps or contact ulcers); (b) medical or physical conditions (e.g., laryngeal nerve trauma, Parkinson disease); and (c) psychogenic disorders (e.g., conversion reactions, personality disorders). Directions for future research are suggested which maximize clinical outcomes and scientific rigor to enhance knowledge on the efficacy of voice treatment.
An improved nomenclature framework is crucial to improve communication regarding voice problems and to advance the field of voice disorders. The subjective nature of the voice evaluation process does not lend itself readily to uniformity and most voice-disordered patients demonstrate multiple pathologic processes. In this article, the authors offer a broad-based nomenclature paradigm for the classification of voice disorders and vocal pathology. Four major categories of voice disorders are identified based on pathophysiology and auditory-perceptual and visual-perceptual observations. As the understanding of vocal fold biomechanics and pathophysiology evolves, it is expected that this nomenclature system will also increase in specificity.