[Management and therapy in functional aphonia: analysis of 500 cases].
BACKGROUND
The article reviews current opinions on etiopathogenesis and management of functional total loss of the ability to produce loud voice. Psychogenic aphonia refers to involuntary whispering despite a basically normal larynx.


METHODS
[corrected] The longitudinal study was carried out on 500 patients treated for psychogenic aphonia during 32 years (1972-2004). Of the facilitating techniques, the following were useful for phoniatric therapy: relaxation and respiration, gargle, chewing, pushing, inhalation phonation, masking, phonetic exercises.


RESULTS
During the first day of vocal exercises the voice return to 410 patients (82%). The others required carrying on vocal therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
The basic importance of phoniatric therapy is recovering the voice during the first day of vocal exercises. Sometimes the aphonic patient profits most from symptomatic voice therapy concurrent with psychotherapy.
Maniecka-Aleksandrowicz
Barbara
B
Katedra i Klinika Otolaryngologii Akademii Medycznej w Warszawie.
Domeracka-Kołodziej
Anna
A
Rózak-Komorowska
Alicja
A
Szeptycka-Adamus
Alicja
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001044:Aphonia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014833:Voice Quality; D014834:Voice Training