Subjective and Objective Effects of Androgen Ablation Therapy on Voice

The aim of present study was to evaluate possible side effects of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) on voice quality by means of objective and subjective measures.

Cross-sectional.

Thirty-five male patients who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and who had been using bicalutamide and goserelin acetate combination for at least 12 months were included in the study. Thirty healthy nonsmoker males of similar age and without any laryngeal pathology constituted the control group. Acoustic and aerodynamic voice analyses and voice handicap index-10 were applied to both groups. Maximum phonation time, fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, and noise-to-harmonic ratio were determined during acoustic and aerodynamic voice analyses.

Maximum phonation times were 18.86 ± 5.24 and 24.20 ± 3.59 in ADT and control groups, respectively. It was significantly higher in the control group. Fundamental frequencies were 143.73 ± 18.47 and 135.00 ± 13.18 in ADT and control groups, respectively. Jitter values were 2.72 ± 0.62 and 1.99 ± 0.27 in ADT and control groups, respectively. Shimmer values were 11.50 ± 1.81 and 10.48 ± 1.36 in ADT and control groups, respectively. Fundamental frequency, jitter, and shimmer values were significantly higher in the ADT group. Noise-to-harmonic ratio values did not differ between groups. Voice handicap index-10 result was significantly higher in the ADT group.

ADT has adverse effects on the human voice. Prospective studies with long-term follow-up of a larger cohort are required for more detailed analysis.