Objective and Subjective Voice Outcomes in Post-COVID-19 Dysphonia: A High-Speed Videoendoscopy Pre–Post Study

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: The post-COVID-19 condition frequently includes dysphonia. We aimed to assess objective and subjective voice disorders and short-term responses to multimodal therapy in patients with isolated post-COVID-19 dysphonia. <b>Methods</b>: This retrospective, single-center pre-post study screened 244 post-COVID-19 patients; a subset of 14 with isolated dysphonia underwent standardized assessment at baseline and at 1-month follow-up. Patient-reported outcomes (Voice Handicap Index, VHI; Voice-Related Quality of Life, V-RQOL) and endoscopic evaluation were performed using videolaryngostroboscopy (LVS) and high-speed videoendoscopy (HSV) with kymographic analysis to quantify parameters describing vocal fold oscillations. The treatment included short-term systemic corticosteroids, inhaled corticosteroids, hyaluronic-acid inhalations, and structured voice therapy. <b>Results</b>: At baseline, HSV revealed signs of glottal insufficiency-irregular and asymmetric vocal fold motion, reduced amplitude and pliability, a disrupted mucosal wave, and an increased open quotient. At follow-up, HSV showed increased oscillation, amplitude, and cycle regularity with reduced left-right asymmetry and phase differences; phonovibrograms displayed clearer and more structured patterns. Perturbation indices decreased across jitter and shimmer measures, and the mean fundamental frequency was lower. Improvements in instrumental measures aligned with better VHI and V-RQOL scores. <b>Conclusions</b>: In patients with persistent dysphonia after acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, comprehensive ENT evaluation with instrumental laryngeal assessment is warranted. Short-term multimodal management was associated with improvements in both HSV-derived measures and patient-reported outcomes; confirmation in controlled studies is needed.

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Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Clinical Medicine
Published
2025-09-28
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14196861
Primary Topic
Voice and Speech Disorders
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Objective and Subjective Voice Outcomes in Post-COVID-19 Dysphonia: A High-Speed Videoendoscopy Pre–Post Study

Ewa Niebudek-Bogusz, Jakub Malinowski, Wioletta Pietruszewska, Joanna Jeleniewska
Journal of Clinical Medicine
Voice and Speech Disorders
article

Objective and Subjective Voice Outcomes in Post-COVID-19 Dysphonia: A High-Speed Videoendoscopy Pre–Post Study

Ewa Niebudek-Bogusz, Jakub Malinowski, Wioletta Pietruszewska, Joanna Jeleniewska
article en

Abstract

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: The post-COVID-19 condition frequently includes dysphonia. We aimed to assess objective and subjective voice disorders and short-term responses to multimodal therapy in patients with isolated post-COVID-19 dysphonia. <b>Methods</b>: This retrospective, single-center pre-post study screened 244 post-COVID-19 patients; a subset of 14 with isolated dysphonia underwent standardized assessment at baseline and at 1-month follow-up. Patient-reported outcomes (Voice Handicap Index, VHI; Voice-Related Quality of Life, V-RQOL) and endoscopic evaluation were performed using videolaryngostroboscopy (LVS) and high-speed videoendoscopy (HSV) with kymographic analysis to quantify parameters describing vocal fold oscillations. The treatment included short-term systemic corticosteroids, inhaled corticosteroids, hyaluronic-acid inhalations, and structured voice therapy. <b>Results</b>: At baseline, HSV revealed signs of glottal insufficiency-irregular and asymmetric vocal fold motion, reduced amplitude and pliability, a disrupted mucosal wave, and an increased open quotient. At follow-up, HSV showed increased oscillation, amplitude, and cycle regularity with reduced left-right asymmetry and phase differences; phonovibrograms displayed clearer and more structured patterns. Perturbation indices decreased across jitter and shimmer measures, and the mean fundamental frequency was lower. Improvements in instrumental measures aligned with better VHI and V-RQOL scores. <b>Conclusions</b>: In patients with persistent dysphonia after acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, comprehensive ENT evaluation with instrumental laryngeal assessment is warranted. Short-term multimodal management was associated with improvements in both HSV-derived measures and patient-reported outcomes; confirmation in controlled studies is needed.

Journal of Clinical MedicineVol. 14(19)
Medical University of Lodz (PL)
Uniwersytet Łódzki
Openalex Percentile: Top 66%
Voice and Speech Disorders
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