Prevalence of voice disorders in tertiary care hospital

Abstract

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Human voice is unique due to laryngeal configuration. However, change in voice is common with age and gender. It can also be altered by vocal abuse and misuse leading to different types of voice disorders. So, the present study aims to study the prevalence of voice disorder in patients visiting the voice clinic ENT-HNS department of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital tertiary care center. </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> This was a retrospective study carried out among the patients visiting voice clinic in the department of ENT-HNS for a duration of one year. The patients were evaluated for voice disorder by a team of ENT doctors and Speech pathologists using perceptual and instrumental evaluation. The patients who required surgical intervention were excluded. A descriptive study was done among patients with voice disorders requiring voice therapy. </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Out of 296 patients, the most common age group was 25-50 years with more females compared to males. Structural cause for voice disorder was most common in all age groups and gender in both professional and non-professional voice users but it was more prevalent in professional voice users.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Voice disorders were more frequent in females than males and also in professional voice users as they tend to use voice more daily. The structural cause for voice disorder is the major cause of voice problems in all age groups. </p>