Factors Associated With Patient-perceived Hoarseness in Spasmodic Dysphonia Patients

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Psychology

Background:

• Hoarseness is a patient-perceived symptom, distinct from clinician-diagnosed dysphonia.
• Spasmodic dysphonia (SD) is a neurological voice disorder characterized by involuntary vocal fold movements.
• Understanding patient perception of hoarseness is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors associated with patient-perceived hoarseness in individuals with spasmodic dysphonia.
• To differentiate between subjective hoarseness and objective dysphonia measures in SD patients.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study involving 139 adductor SD patients undergoing botulinum toxin injections.
• Patient-perceived hoarseness was quantified using the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10).
• Data collected included clinical information, anxiety/depression scores (HADS), and clinician-perceived dysphonia (CAPE-V).

Main Results:

• Higher VHI-10 scores correlated with female gender, greater clinician-perceived dysphonia (CAPE-V), older age, and higher anxiety and depression levels.
• No significant correlation was found between hoarseness perception and professional voice use or disease duration.
• Multiple linear regression revealed age, HADS anxiety, female gender, and CAPE-V as significant predictors of patient-perceived hoarseness.

Conclusions:

• Patient-perceived hoarseness in SD is multifactorial, influenced by age, anxiety, gender, and the severity of clinician-diagnosed dysphonia.
• Hoarseness is a highly personal symptom, and its self-perception is shaped by a combination of clinical and psychological factors.
• These findings highlight the importance of addressing psychological aspects and objective voice assessments in managing SD patients.