Fundamentals of phoniatry (lecture)

Abstract

Phoniatry is a branch of otorhinolaryngology and deals with issues related to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of voice disorders. Violations of voice function, especially in persons of voice-speaking professions, worsen the quality of life, affect interpersonal relationships, create difficulties in communication, and in some cases lead to professional unfitness. It is known that about 6% of the population suffers from voice disorders, and laryngeal diseases are 56 times more common among specialists of voice-speaking professions. The invention of the laryngeal mirror became a landmark event in the emergence of laryngology, and subsequently phoniatry. The process of voice formation is provided by the voice apparatus, which consists of four departments and forms a single functional system. The vibrations of the vocal folds are a complex physiological process as a result of which sound appears. But this sound is not like the voice we hear. He acquires his unique timbre in the resonator department. It is possible to assess the state of voice function with the help of video endostroboscopy of the larynx and acoustic research methods. These diagnostic methods complement each other and create the most objective representation of the voice and its disorders.