Causes of dysphonia in patients above 60 years of age

Abstract

Objectives: We evaluated the causes of hoarseness in patients above 60 years of age.

Patients and methods: The study included 98 patients (40 females, 58 males; mean age 64 years; range 60 to 77 years) who presented with hoarseness. All the patients were examined by videolaryngoscopy. Temporary hoarseness secondary to respiratory tract infections was excluded.

Results: The most common cause of hoarseness was benign vocal fold lesions (28.6%) followed by malignant lesions (27.6%), vocal fold paralysis (25.5%), functional dysphonia (10.2%), and presbyphonia (8.2%). Laryngopharyngeal reflux was found in 13 patients (13.3%). Fourteen male and 11 female patients had paralysis of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Malignancies that caused hoarseness without paralyzing the vocal folds were larynx carcinoma (n=18), hypopharynx carcinoma (n=8), and multiple malignancy (n=1).

Conclusion: Our data show that dysphonia develops due to disease processes associated with aging rather than to physiologic aging alone. Considering adverse influences of dysphonia on the quality of life of elderly population, efforts should be directed to elucidation of the cause and to performing appropriate treatment.