Stratifying Presbylarynx: Characterization of its Three Types

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Gerontology
• Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

• Presbylarynx, the aging voice, presents diverse clinical manifestations.
• A standardized classification is needed to stratify these changes and guide diagnosis and treatment.
• Existing classifications may not fully capture the spectrum of glottal configurations in the elderly.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the clinical characteristics of a novel classification system for presbylarynx.
• To stratify presbylarynx into three types (Type 0, Type 1, Type 2) based on glottal configuration and endoscopic findings.
• To analyze the association between glottal types and demographic factors, vocal complaints, and acoustic parameters.

Main Methods:

• Prospective, observational, cross-sectional study design.
• Inclusion of 306 subjects (180 females, mean age 73.85).
• Data collection included demographics, glottal configuration type, vocal complaints (self-assessment), and acoustic/audio-perceptive voice analysis.

Main Results:

• Type 0 glottal configuration was most frequent overall (61%) and in subjects without presbyphonia (84%).
• Type 1 and Type 2 were more prevalent in subjects with presbyphonia (58% and 19%, respectively).
• Type 2 was associated with higher self-reported vocal complaints and poorer acoustic measures (Jitter, Shimmer, HNR, Maximum Phonation Time).

Conclusions:

• The proposed classification effectively characterizes endoscopic laryngeal signs in elderly patients with presbylarynx.
• This classification aids in stratifying the aging voice and documenting treatment outcomes.
• It is expected to enhance the diagnostic protocol for presbylarynx and voice aging research.