Verbal communication disorders in psychogenic dysphonia

Area of Science:

• Otorhinolaryngology
• Speech and Language Pathology
• Psychosomatic Medicine

Background:

• Psychogenic dysphonia involves voice disturbances without organic laryngeal changes, significantly influenced by mental state.
• Emotional factors impact voice production, respiratory-phonatory-articulation mechanisms, and speech prosody.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a comprehensive assessment of voice and speech quality in psychogenic dysphonia patients.
• To utilize both subjective and objective methods for evaluating voice and speech characteristics.
• To identify common clinical forms and associated functional disturbances in psychogenic dysphonia.

Main Methods:

• Inclusion of 50 psychogenic dysphonia patients and 30 controls.
• Subjective assessment using the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) and objective evaluation including GRBAS scale, breathing pathway assessment, respiratory-phonatory-articulation analysis, and intensity evaluation.
• Examination of speech prosody, vocal fold visualization via High Speed Digital Imaging (HSDI), and acoustic analysis using DiagNova Technologies; determination of maximum phonation time (MPT).

Main Results:

• Hyperfunctional dysphonia identified as the most prevalent clinical form.
• Abnormal breathing pathways correlate with reduced MPT and impaired respiratory-phonatory-articulation coordination.
• Observed disorders in intonation and speech rate, with most patients reporting mild voice disability via self-assessment.

Conclusions:

• Psychogenic dysphonia is characterized by functional impairments, particularly in breathing and speech modulation.
• Early identification and intervention targeting respiratory-phonatory-articulation coordination are crucial.
• The interplay between psychological state and vocal function underscores the need for a holistic treatment approach.