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Psychogenic dysphonia is defined as disturbances in voice and speech quality with emotional background with lack of organic changes in the larynx. Mental condition has significant impact on the process of producing voice, functioning of respiratory-phonatory-articulation mechanism and speech prosody. The aim of the study was visual, acoustic, perceptual assessment as well as self-assessment of voice and speech quality using subjective and objective methods in patients with psychogenic dysphonia. The study included 50 patients with psychogenic dysphonia diagnosed in the Department of Clinical Fonoaudiology and Logopedics, Medical University of Białystok and treated at the Foniatric Outpatient Clinic, University Hospital in Białystok in 2017 - 2018. The control group consisted of 30 subjects with euphonic voice. All patients underwent subjective and objective assessment of voice and speech quality. The GRBAS scale, breathing pathway assessment, respiratory-phonatory-articulation analysis, voice and speech intensity evaluation have been performed. Speech prosody has also been examined. Patient self-assessment of voice has been conducted using Voice Handicap Index (VHI). Objective evaluation of larynx included vibrations of vocal folds visualization using High Speed Digital Imaging (HSDI). Acoustic analysis of voice quality has been performed using DiagNova Technologies. The maximum phonation time (MPT) has been determined. Hyperfunctional dysphonia is the most common clinical form of psychogenic dysphonia. Abnormal breathing pathway influence the reduction of MPT and disturbance of respiratory-phonatory-articulation coordination in patients with psychogenic dysphonia. In psychogenic dysphonia intonation and speech rate disorders are observed. Results of voice self-assessment in the majority of examined patients indicates a mild voice disability.

Objective. The aim of the study was to determine the individual variability of the severity of dysphonia in the population of older women and men using the initial perceptual voice assessment (GRBAS) and objective diagnosis of the clinical form of Presbyphonia with laryngeal visualization technique (High-Speed Digital Imaging [HSDI]) and acoustic voice analysis (Diagnoscope Specjalista). Methods. The study included 302 elderly women and men. Application of perceptual GRBAS scale allowed to extract 230 subjects with voice disorders (Group I). Remaining 72 elderly subjects without the symptoms of dysphonia consisted Group II. Group III included 50 subjects with euphonic voice. In the assessment of dysphonia, visualization technique (HSDI) as well as acoustic method (Diagnoscope Specjalista). The observation of real vibration of vocal folds using HSDI technique and HS camera allowed to examine symmetricity (Shaw-Deliyski scale), periodicity and amplitude of vibration, Mucosal Wave (MW) morphology, Glottal Closure Type, and value of Open Quotient (OQ). Acoustic analysis allowed to assess value of Fundamental Frequency (F0), Maximum Phonation Time (MPT) as well as Jitter, Shimmer, Noise-to-Harmonics Ratio (NHR) parameters. Narrowband Spectrography was performed. Results. HSDI technique allowed to register in elderly women with voice disorders a mild asymmetry and aperiodicity of vibrations, MW reduction, amplitude increase and glottal insufficiency in the posterior segment of glottis which indicated edematous changes in the larynx. In 90% of men in this group, moderate asymmetry and aperiodicity were observed as well as amplitude decrease, significant limitation of MW and glottal insufficiency in the middle segment of the glottis which indicated atrophic changes in the larynx. In remaining 10% of men, amplitude of vibration was increased which indicated the existence of hypofunctional dysphonia. Objective confirmation of glottal insufficiency in women with edematous changes was high value of OQ in posterior segment of the glottis registered with HSDI technique. In men with larynx atrophy, the value of OQ was the highest in the middle segment of the glottis. Glottal insufficiency, especially in the middle segment, coexisted with the increase of NHR parameter observed in acoustic examination and with numerous nonharmonic components in the scope of high frequencies revealed in narrowband spectrography, especially in men with larynx atrophy. What is more, in men, the increase of F0 and reduction of MPT was registered. In women with edematous changes of the larynx, acoustic analysis revealed decrease of F0 value, increase of Jitter, Shimmer, NHR as well as reduction of MPT. Narrowband sopectrography revealed not only harmonic components but also nonharmonics in the range of low, medium, and high frequencies. Conclusions. The course of Presbyphonia varies individually in the elderly. In many subjects, the process of aging does not influence the quality of voice. Crucial importance in the diagnosis of Presbyphonia is assigne...

During pregnancy, voice quality disorders may occur in form of: edema, dryness, nervousness. The aim of the study is subjective and objective evaluation of voice quality in pregnant women. The study included 20 women in the third trimester of pregnancy, age of 20-31 diagnosed at the Department of Clinical Phonoaudiology and Logopedics, Medical University of Bialystok. Subjective assessment has been based on the GRBAS scale. Objective assessment of the vocal organ used the HSDI technique (High Speed Digital Imaging). In the laryngeal visualization, high-speed camera (HS) using rigid endoscope with 90 ° optics has been used. Vibration of vocal folds has been recorded during phonation of vowel "e" at 4000 frames / sec. The glottal closure (GTs), symmetry, regularity and synchronization of vocal folds vibration have been assessed. In estimating the degree of glottal insufficiency, kymography of the larynx has been performed by analyzing the value of Open Quotient (OQ). Objective acoustic evaluation of voice has been also conducted using DiagnoScope Specjalista Program. Hoarseness has been observed in 15 pregnant women, whereas voice fatigability in 20 patients. Using HSDI, the edema of vocal folds in part of the group has been observed. Decreased MPT has been found in all examined women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Hoarseness and fatigability of voice are the most frequent subjective symptoms of voice organ in the third trimester of pregnancy. Decreased MPT is recorded objectively, as well as edema and insufficiency of vocal folds using HSDI technique.

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