Voice Disorders Across Age Subgroups in the Geriatric Population: A Retrospective Observational Study

Although the literature indicates an increased incidence of voice disorders among older adults, data regarding the etiological distribution of dysphonia across different age subgroups remain limited. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the distribution of voice disorder etiologies among dysphonic patients aged 65 years and older, stratified by age subgroup.

Patients aged 65 years and older presenting with voice complaints were stratified into 3 age subgroups: 65 to 74, 75 to 84, and ≥85 years. The etiological diagnoses of voice disorders were classified into 8 categories based on clinical and literature-supported definitions.

The most common voice disorder among patients aged ≥65 years and older was malignant vocal fold pathology (28.0%), followed by vocal fold immobility (20.0%), vocal fold atrophy (12.1%), and chronic laryngitis (12.1%).

This study underscores that most cases of geriatric dysphonia arise from pathological rather than from age-related causes. These findings highlight the importance of thorough laryngeal evaluation in elderly patients presenting with hoarseness.