title: The diagnosis, clinical findings and treatment options for Parkinson's disease patients attending a tertiary referral voice clinic.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system, mainly affecting motor functions including the voice. The aetiology of dysphonia changes throughout the course of disease progression.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the laryngeal changes seen in early-, mid- and late-stage Parkinson's disease. Thirteen patients with Parkinson's disease are presented, representing the largest series of voice patients with Parkinson's disease seen in a voice clinic in the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  Age, gender, severity of handicap caused by voice disorder and possible associated reflux symptoms were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Laryngeal function appeared to change gradually with progression of the disease, and may have been affected by the presence of pre-existing laryngeal pathology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laryngeal function in Parkinson's disease appears to go through a series of changes that may be helped by both therapeutic and surgical interventions. These patients should be treated within the confines of a voice clinic multidisciplinary model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology,University Hospital Lewisham,London,UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gibbins
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech Therapy,University Hospital Lewisham,London,UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Awad
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech Therapy,University Hospital Lewisham,London,UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology,University Hospital Lewisham,London,UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aymat
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018450:Disease Progression; D055154:Dysphonia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007830:Larynx / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D014831:Voice / Q000502:physiology; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Dysphonia; Injection; Laryngoplasty; Larynx; Medialization Laryngoplasty; Parkinson Disease