Impact of voice disorders and microlaryngeal surgery on psychological profiles of Arabic-speaking professional and nonprofessional voice users

Abstract

IntroductionVoice disorders that impair normal social communication may cause subsequent emotional distress and are significantly associated with greater risk of anxiety and depression. The occurrence of vocal symptoms and voice disorders in professions where voice is an essential tool may cause stress and anxiety to the professionals suffering from them. Voice disorders in professionals have a major psychoemotional and social impact because they can threaten, shorten, or even end teachers’ and singers’ careers.Aim of the workPsychological impact of various voice disorders of professional and nonprofessional voice users has not yet been adequately studied according to the authors’ knowledge in the Egyptian population. It is therefore of great importance to shed light on the psychological impact of voice disorders on patients in an attempt to improve the quality of life of those patients.Patients and methodsDuring the period of 6 months from June 2014 to December 2014, 40 patients were included prospectively in this work.Results and conclusionProfessional voice users are more susceptible to psychological diseases than nonprofessional voice users. The degree of improvement postoperatively in professional voice users was statistically significant in all assessments of this study when compared with the nonprofessional voice users except in self-confidence and worth (Rosenberg self-esteem test). The best degree of improvement postoperatively was detected in the professional voice physically according to Jacobson scoring guidelines. There was a moderate relation between dysphonia and anxiety and depression according to the Voice Handicap Index and Kessler psychological distress scale results in this study.