Pessoas com queixa vocal à espera de atendimento: auto-avaliação vocal, índice de disfonia e qualidade de vida

Abstract

Introduction: voice disorders may occur as a consequence of several factors and each of them has its contribution to develop dysphonia. Objective: to characterize a vocal profile of subjects with vocal complaints that are on a waiting list for vocal treatment, considering vocal self assessment, acoustic perceptual evaluation with dysphonia index, and the impact of dysphonia on the quality of life. Method: we studied 44 subjects, age ranged from 19 to 80, both genders, out of 99 who were waiting for voice treatment, at a university school-clinic. Protocols were utilized to evaluate: vocal, hydration and eating habits, and environmental conditions that may interfere on vocal health, perceptual analysis, voice index, quality of life and voice measure, establishing possible correlations. Results: high prevalence of vocal symptoms, reduced phonation time, relationship between self assessment of voice quality and quality of life statistically significant, the worse the self assessment of the voice quality, the worse the quality of life seemed to be. Conclusion: we observed a statistically significant correlation between vocal global classification, dysphonia index, and otolaryngology diagnoses. Subjects that use professional voice showed a worse self- assessment.