Medical conditions associated with concurrent dysphagia and dysphonia

Abstract

Swallowing and voice production are important processes enabling a comfortable life. For appropriate alimentation, effective passage of food and fluids through a digestive system is necessary. Interpersonal communication depends on good voice and speech. Conditions associated with swallowing and speech problems leads dysfunctions and seriously affect the patient’s comfort of living. This chapter is a review of medical conditions associated with concurrence of dysphonia and dysphagia. There are a large number of medical conditions leading to the simultaneous occurrence of swallowing problems and hoarseness. The diversity of disorders is a serious interdisciplinary issue. Diagnostics of concurrent dysphagia and dysphonia is complicated and requires a holistic interdisciplinary approach. The reasons include functional and organic dysfunctions, neurological conditions, tumors, vascular disorders, autoimmune inflammations, post-operative complications, post-COVID complications, and others. Our research was conducted by reviewing PubMed and Scopus network using key words “dysphagia”, “dysphonia”, “hoarseness.” We found 966 publications, then narrowed the search to 99 articles describing medical conditions and case reports, which present with dysphagia and dysphonia occurring together. Detailed analysis enabled us to categorize the disorders into groups, depending on characteristics and body region involved in the pathological process. Finally, the description of the medical conditions was done systematically according to those groups.