Clinical Characteristics and Acoustic Analysis Results of Dysphonic Patients Admitted to Ankara University ENT Clinic

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiologic, clinical and prognostic features and acoustic analysis results of dysphonia patients admitted to Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Otorhinolaryngology Outpatient Clinic with complaints of hoarseness. Materials and Methods: Among 427 patients who applied to the outpatient clinic between May 2013 and May 2014, 185 patients who met the study criteria were included in the study. Demographic information, clinical diagnoses, voice quality evaluations, videolaryngostroboscopic findings and acoustic analysis data were obtained. Pre- and post-treatment data were compared statistically. Results: Among the patients included in the study, 53.5% were female and 46.5% were male; the most common causes of dysphonia were polyps (14.59%), functional dysphonia (10.81%) and reflux laryngitis (9.19%); the most common closure pattern in videolaryngostroboscopic examination was complete closure (25.95%). Voice therapy was planned for 46.5% of the patients, surgery for 42.2%, and medical treatment for 7.6%. A significant decrease was observed in GRBAS, Voice Handicap Index and Voice-Related Quality of Life Scale scores after treatment (p<0.05). In men, the decrease in fundamental frequency was statistically significant (p<0.05), but the changes in acoustic parameters such as jitter, shimmer, NNE, HNR were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: The combined use of subjective and objective measures in the evaluation of dysphonia patients provides significant benefits in the diagnosis and treatment process. In our study, significant improvements were observed in both subjective and objective parameters with the treatments applied. Multidisciplinary approach increases the effectiveness of dysphonia management.