RESEARCH - Glottis morphology and perceptive-acoustic characteristics of voice and speech in patients with RA

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Ann Acad Med Stetin. 2007;53(3):55-65.

[Glottis morphology and perceptive-acoustic characteristics of voice

and speech in patients with rheumatoid arthritis]

[Article in Polish]

Amernik K.

Katedra i Klinika Otolaryngologii i Onkologii Laryngologicznej

Pomorskiej Akademii Medycznej w Szczecinie, Szczecin.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was estimation of glottis

morphology and perceptive-acoustic characteristics of voice and speech

in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: 77 patients (51 women and 15 men), 19-77 years

of age (average 56,7) with recognized RA. The disease duration was

from 1 month to 29 (average 9,4) years. Laryngeal, phoniatric

examination and phonetic-acoustic analysis of voice and speech

(program IRIS). One patient with bilateral vocal folds immobilization

had computer tomography of the larynx and electromiography of internal

laryngeal muscles.

RESULTS: The most frequent complains were: foreign body sensation in

the throat 51% (n = 39/76), hoarseness - 47% (n = 36/76), weakness of

voice - 29% (n = 22/76). Redness of the mucosal tissue in the area of

arytenoids was stated in 41% (32/77) patients and edema in 28%

(21/77). Complains and morphological features of inflammation in the

larynx were considerably more frequent in patients with active RA. 3

patients had impairment of vocal folds mobility, in 2 of them it was

bilateral immobilization requiring emergency tracheotomy. Subjective

voice analysis was made according to GRBAS scale. In 35% (26/75)

patients there was G2 or G3 stated. The average time of phonation [a]

was 7 seconds. Average basic voice frequency was for women 216 Hz and

for men 118 Hz. There was statistically important correlation between

increasing of some acoustic voice parameters and RA activity and

intensity.

CONCLUSIONS: Patient's complains for foreign body sensation in the

throat and hoarseness, especially when RA is active, can indicate on

inflammatory process in the larynx. For these reason it seems to be

reliable to stay in close contact for rheumatologist, laryngologist

and phoniatrist in every day practice.

PMID: 18595486

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18595486

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