Voice and aging: clinical, endoscopic and acoustic investigation.

Voice and aging: clinical, endoscopic and acoustic investigation.

Clin Otolaryngol. 2016 Aug 18;

Authors: Pessin AB, Tavares EL, Gramuglia AC, de Carvalho LR, Martins RH

Abstract
Vocal symptoms are frequent in the elderly and are consequences of structural changes in the larynx that occur with aging.
OBJECTIVE: to identify the voice alterations in elderly patients attending a voice clinic.
METHODS: elderly patients of both genders were divided into two groups: 60-75 and above 76 years. All patients completed a questionnaire with identification data, profession, vocal symptoms, hearing, habits and addictions, and systemic diseases. All participants were submitted to video laryngoscopy and acoustic and auditory-perceptual vocal analysis.
RESULTS: In this study women predominated (40 F versus 32 M). Hoarseness was reported by 34.72% of the participants. Other symptoms included: singing difficulty (17%) and phonatory effort (15.28%). Maximum Phonation Time showed lower values and scores 2 and 3 of perceptual analysis were registered in 33% of the elderly participants, but without statistical significance. The fundamental frequency values were inferior in older man and high in women and acoustic parameters showed high values in both groups, but without statistical significance. Videolaryngoscopies demonstrated alterations in 47% of the participants, especially bowed and atrophic vocal folds.
CONCLUSIONS: We described the vocal symptoms, vocal perceptual and acoustic analysis and endoscopic findings of an elderly population, characterizing the presbyphonia. Therapeutic measures must involve speech therapy and/or surgery to reduce the glottal gap, allowing less air leakage and, consequently, better vocal performance. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID: 27537269 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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