[Usefulness of assessment of voice capabilities in female patients with reflux-related dysphonia].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze vocal capabilities in patients diagnosed with reflux related dysphonia versus controls with healthy voice with selection of the most informative discriminating quantitative parameters and to assess voice changes following treatment.


METHODS
Six parameters of voice range profile (VRP) and five parameters of speech range profile were taken and analyzed from 60 dysphonic outpatient females with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) diagnosed by reflux-related atypical and typical symptoms, videolaryngoscopic findings, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and positive response to empiric 3-month omeprazole treatment. Seventy-six females with healthy voice served as controls.


RESULTS
All six parameters of voice range profile and three of 5 parameters of speech range profile showed significant differences comparing LPR patients with controls before omeprazole treatment (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed VRP maximum-minimum intensity range to be the most informative parameter for discrimination between reflux-related dysphonic and healthy voices (overall prediction accuracy, 86.8%). A threshold value of significant parameter was stated using the receiver operating characteristic curve. Treatment with omeprazole significantly improved voice quality showing the greatest changes in the mean scores of majority of voice range profile parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Vocal capabilities, especially evaluated by voice range profile, are restricted in LPR female patients in comparison to subjects with healthy voice. Quantitative voice assessment with voice range profile may add more objective aspect for screening dysphonia and could be used as a criterion of evaluation of treatment efficacy in such patients.
Siupsinskiene
Nora
N
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kaunas University of Medicine, Eiveniu 2, 50009 Kaunas, Lithuania. norai_s@yahoo.com
Adamonis
Kestutis
K
Toohill
Robert J
RJ
D000328:Adult; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D055154:Dysphonia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D057045:Laryngopharyngeal Reflux / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010045:Outpatients; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014833:Voice Quality; D014834:Voice Training
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D009853:Omeprazole