Relationship between vocal symptoms, severity of voice disorders, and laryngeal diagnosis in patients with voice disorders.

Purpose: To investigate whether there is an association between the frequency of occurrence of vocal symptoms, the intensity of vocal deviation and laryngeal diagnosis in patients with different voice disorders. Methods: The study included 330 patients with vocal complaints. The patients were divided into five groups according to the laryngeal diagnosis: G1without laryngeal lesions; G2 -benign vocal fold lesions; G3 voice disorder of neurological origin; G4 -incomplete glottal closure without organic or neurologic cause; and G5 voice disorder secondary to gastroesophageal reflux. All participants responded to the Voice Symptom Scale (VoiSS) and recorded the sustained /ɛ/ vowel, which was analyzed for the intensity of vocal deviation using a visual analog scale. Results: There were differences in total VoiSS scores and in scores for the impairment and physical domains among the different diagnostic groups. Patients with lesions in the membranous portion of the vocal folds presented more vocal symptoms than those in the other diagnostic groups. There was a positive correlation between the intensity of vocal deviation and the total, limitation and emotional VoiSS scores. Patients with moderate and intense vocal deviation showed a greater number of vocal symptoms than patients with healthy voices or with mild deviations. Conclusion: There is an association between laryngeal diagnosis, the intensity of vocal deviation and vocal symptoms. Patients with benign vocal fold lesions and more intense vocal deviations have a higher frequency of vocal symptoms.