Dysphonia in the aging: physiology versus disease

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Otolaryngology
• Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

• Aging affects laryngeal function, potentially leading to voice disorders.
• Understanding the specific causes of dysphonia in the elderly is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define the causes of age-related voice disorders in patients over 60.
• To differentiate between dysphonia due to physiologic aging and other disease processes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of 151 dysphonic patients aged 60 and above.
• Analysis of patient records to identify underlying causes of dysphonia.

Main Results:

• The majority of dysphonia cases were attributed to specific diseases, not solely aging.
• Identified causes include neurological disorders, benign vocal fold lesions, inflammatory conditions, laryngeal neoplasia, and paralysis.
• Physiologic aging signs like vocal fold bowing were uncommon, present in only six patients.

Conclusions:

• Dysphonia in older adults is predominantly caused by associated diseases rather than intrinsic aging of the larynx.
• Presbylarynges is a rare diagnosis of exclusion, requiring thorough medical and speech evaluation.
• Accurate diagnosis necessitates differentiating between age-related diseases and true presbylarynges.