Aims Hoarseness of voice is a common symptom in otolaryngological practice and it is the earliest manifestation of a large variety of conditions directly or indirectly affecting the larynx, ranging from benign to most malignant. This study was undertaken to find out clinical profile, predisposing factors and etiology of hoarseness of voice. Methods A retrospective cohort analysis was carried out in Department of ENT, Pt JNM Medical College, Raipur, in 251 cases of change in voice for 3 years duration. All cases were analyzed for detailed history and underwent pre- and postoperatively stroboscopic examination to reach the diagnosis. Results Total 251 cases with M:F ratio of 1.9:1 were analyzed. Patients age ranged from 11 to 80 years and majority of patients equally presented in 4th and 6th decade. Nonvocal/nonprofessional group constituted as a single largest group (85.26%). Smoking was commonest predisposing factor (44.22%) followed by vocal abuse (30.28%). Out of 251 cases, 83.67% cases were organic and 16.33% cases were functional in origin.

The deleterious effects of smoking on laryngeal mucosa are indisputable. Smoking not only causes histologic (microscopic) alterations in the vocal fold epithelium but also affect the acoustic property of voice. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of smoking on the laryngeal structures and phonatory physiology via videostroboscopy, acoustic voice analysis and electroglottography. Cross-sectional and observational study was carried out in Department of ENT, Pt. J. N. M. Medical College, Raipur, in 100 male volunteers (50 smokers and 50 nonsmokers) between the ages of 18 and 60 years with no voice complaints. All subjects were analyzed for detailed history and underwent videostroboscopic, acoustic voice analysis and electroglottographic examination. Videostroboscopic examination results showed significant relationships between smoking and abnormal vocal fold edge, abnormal texture, edema, erythema, abnormal mucosal cover, abnormal phase symmetry and abnormal pliability/ stiffness. Voice analysis showed that smoking has a clear effect on some acoustic voice and electroglottographic parameters. The parameters most commonly affected by smoking are fundamental frequency (F0), jitter, shimmer, F0 tremor, normalized noise energy, signal noise ratio, maximum phonation time (MPT), s/z ratio, opening rate and closing rate. The results indicate that smoking has a significant effect on laryngeal structures and phonatory physiology.

Successful treatment of bilateral vocal fold lesions depends on the accuracy of the diagnosis. The application of stroboscopy to the study of vocal fold vibration has led to dramatic advances in the understanding of vocal fold physiology. Laryngeal stroboscopy is the state of the art diagnostic tool and this technique provides valuable information about the nature of the vibration and a visual image that can be used both for immediate analysis and as a permanent record for comparison of repeated examination at a later date. In this study we are presenting demographic analysis and videostroboscopic assessment in 112 cases of different vocal pathologies. Stroboscopic parameters like glottic closure, amplitude, vocal fold edge, symmetry, periodicity and mucosal wave pattern were studied and statistically significant relationship with different vocal pathologies were obtained.

Hearing loss is most common form of genetic hearing disorder. Non-syndromic sensory neural autosomal recessive deafness (NSRD) is the most common form of genetic hearing loss. Mutations in GJB2 gene, which encodes the connexin 26 protein, are major cause of NSRD. The aim of this study is directed towards the mutations caused along the connexin 26 gene using blood samples from nonsyndromic deaf children. The study was conducted on 36 congenitally hearing impaired children who visited to our department with complains of hearing loss and reduced speech and whose age was\10 years with no other congenital anomaly. After a thorough history, clinical examination and all audiological and radiological assessment, blood samples are collected and DNA extraction, PCR and sequencing were done for further genetic analysis. Annotated and documented autosomal recessive (pathogenic) mutations were observed in 57 % of NSRD cases. The frequency of pathogenic mutation was commonest for Ins G between nucleotide 30-35 (40 % of cases) followed by Del T at nucleotide 59(20 % of cases).These two common mutations (singly or doubly) were present in 51.4 % of cases. Present study helps to screen the families with hearing impaired children, which will facilitate the development of strategies for diagnosis and treatment of these common genetic disorders.

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