Change of Voice Quality before and after Treatment of Short-Term Therapy with Proton Pump Inhibitor in Laryngopharyngeal Reflux

Abstract

Received May 19, 2014 Revised July 23, 2014 Accepted July 23, 2014 Address for correspondence Jung Hyun Chang, MD, PhD Department of OtolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery, National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, 100 Ilsan-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang 410-719, Korea Tel +82-31-900-0346 Fax +82-31-900-0613 E-mail manbang5@naver.com Background and ObjectivesZZThe aim of this study was to verify that voice analysis could be an alternate tool for the evaluation of proton pump inhibitor treatment of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). Subjects and MethodZZTwenty-two patients with LPR symptoms underwent laryngoscopy, stroboscopy and their reflux finding index (RFI) were evaluated. Subjective reflux symptom scores (RSS) and voice handicap index (VHI) were completed at the baseline. All patients underwent voice analysis. Thereafter, patients had short-term proton pump inhibitor therapy for 6 weeks. The RFI, RSS, VHI and voice analysis were repeated during the last week of the treatment. ResultsZZRFI was improved and both RSS and VHI were improved after the treatment. RSS and VHI were significantly correlated. In voice analysis, shimmer significantly improved and harmony to noise ratio (HNR) also improved. ConclusionZZVoice analysis can be indicators of treatment results of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease. Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg 2014;57(10):703-6