Subjective and Objective Evaluation of Voice Quality in Patients With Asthma

• Published in: Journal of voice Vol. 21; no. 2; pp. 224 - 230
• Main Authors: Dogan, Muzeyyen, Eryuksel, Emel, Kocak, Ismail, Celikel, Turgay, Sehitoglu, Mehmet Ali
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Mosby, Inc 01.03.2007; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Acoustic analysis; Acoustics; Adult; Asthma; Asthma - epidemiology; Dysphonia; Evaluation; Female; Humans; Laryngoscopy; Male; Otolaryngology; Severity of Illness Index; Speech Acoustics; Videotape Recording; Vocal Production; Voice Disorders - diagnosis; Voice Disorders - epidemiology; Voice Quality; Dysphonia; Acoustic analysis; Asthma
• ISSN: 0892-1997; 1873-4588
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2005.11.003

Summary Objectives: To evaluate the voice quality in patients with mild-to-moderate asthma by subjective and objective methods. Study design: Comparative, controlled, cross-sectional study. Methods: Patients with mild-to-moderate asthma (n = 40) and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (n = 40) were included. Acoustic analyses were performed by the  Multi-Dimensional Voice Program ( MDVP ; Kay Elemetrics Corporation, Lincoln Park, NJ) and the movements of the vocal cords were examined by videolaryngostroboscopy (VLS). In addition, the duration of illness, maximum phonation time, “s/z” values, and vital capacity were evaluated. Voice Handicap Index (VHI) and GRB scales were used for subjective evaluations. Results: Maximum phonation time values were significantly shorter both in male and female asthma patients compared with controls ( P < 0.0001). Also, average shimmer values in MDVP were higher for both sexes in the patient group compared with controls ( P = 0.002 and P = 0.04, respectively). There was a significant difference between female patients and sex-matched controls with regard to mean noise-to-harmonic ratio values ( P = 0.006). Female patients with asthma had higher average jitter values compared with sex-matched controls ( P < 0.0001). A significant difference was noted between asthma and control groups with regard to GRB scale ( P < 0.0001, P < 0.001, and P < 0.0001, respectively). The VHI score was above the normal limit in 16 (40%), and VLS findings were abnormal in 39 (97.5%) asthmatics. Conclusion: In asthmatic patients, maximum phonation time, frequency, and amplitude perturbation parameters were impaired, but the vital capacity and the duration of illness did not correlate with these findings.