Influence of aging and sex on voice parameters in patients with unilateral vocal cord paralysis.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate influences of aging and sex on different voice parameters in patients with unilateral vocal cord paralysis (VCP). Retrospective review of patients with unilateral VCP. Forty-seven patients, 22 males, 25 females (24-85 years), were enrolled in the study. The diagnosis of VCP was established by videolaryngostroboscopy. The acoustic parameters of jitter, shimmer, degree of subharmonic, noise to harmonic ratio, fundamental frequency, and maximal intensity were measured. The auditive voice analysis included roughness, breathiness, and hoarseness. Statistical analysis involves Pearson's bivariate correlation coefficients and two-way analysis of variance with interaction variables. After unilateral VCP in the elderly, some sex- and age-related differences in the restriction of the voice can be documented. In general, the investigated voice parameters showed similar tendencies to those in otherwise healthy aging persons.