The ageing voice and voice therapy in geriatrics

Abstract

Background: Although voice therapy is commonly used as an initial treatment for geriatric dysphonia, its role in the treatment for different organic voice disorder is less defined.

Aims: The goal of this study was to investigate dysphonia and therapy modalities in this cohort.

Methods: This study analyzes the demographics, Voice Handicap Index questionnaires, and acoustic voice measures including fundamental frequency, jitter and shimmer by using Kay Elemetrics Computerized Speech Lab Multidimensional voice program which were obtained in all patients before and after treatment. A total of 91 (55 men and 36 women) patients with voice complaints, age ranging from 50 to 91 years (mean 64.11 ± 7.2) diagnosed of any vocal fold pathology were made via strobovideolaryngoscopy.

Results: Vocal nodules in 23.9 % (N = 22) was the most common diagnosis associated with the voice complaints, followed by laryngopharyngeal reflux in 10.8 % (N = 10) and paresis in 9.78 % (N = 9). VHI scores varied greatly, ranging from 4 to 92, with an average score of 42.7. Multidimensional voice program scores showed that fundamental frequency (F0) tends to rise as a function of age in men (mean 283.66 ± 23.7).

Discussion: Fundamental frequency perturbation may be affected in ageing, both genders same values detected. Of these patients, 80 % received hygienic voice therapy and % 20 symptomatic voice therapies. This study identified fundamental frequency alteration for ageing voice and dysphonia in all elderly patients presenting with voice complaints.

Conclusion: Additional research is needed to determine normative values for multidimensional voice program scores and other assessments in the elderly population.

Keywords: Aging; Aging voice; Dysphonia; Elderly; Hoarseness; Voice disorders.