Voice-related quality of life in organic and functional voice disorders

Abstract

The voice-related quality of life (V-RQOL) questionnaire was proposed as a disease specific measure of patients’ subjective burden elicited by a voice disorder. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of gender and aetiology (benign organic versus functional) on V-RQOL results. Fifty-two German-speaking patients completed the questionnaire without prior information about their individual diagnosis. Results allow for the conclusion that women score lower indicating a poorer voice status. Differences between patients diagnosed with an organic or a functional voice disorder revealed no universal difference. This has to be investigated in future, especially against the degree of the voice disorder, the individual personality, health belief and social background.