Features of larynx diseases in persons of voice and speech professions

Objective: study of the characteristics of the main diseases of the larynx in people of voice and speech professions, conducting a comparative analysis of the prevalence, risk factors and clinical picture of diseases. Material and methods: in the conditions of the ENT clinic of the NMC “Shifobakhsh” 163 people of voice and speech professions (78 women and 85 men) with functional and organic diseases of the larynx were examined, the average age of patients was 36.5 years. Patients were divided into 2 groups taking into account laryngeal diseases in vocalists (main group) and in speech professions (comparison group). All examined persons underwent a general ENT examination, video fibrolaryngoscopy and video recording of the patients’ voices. Results: the analysis of the contingent of examined persons by professional characteristics was divided into vocalists and speech-language specialists, whose representatives were singers, teachers, actors, educators of children’s institutions, as well as persons of other professions (housewives, drivers, trade workers, etc.). The most frequent diagnoses in vocalists were: atrophic, hypertrophic and catarrhal laryngitis, phonasthenia. In persons of other professions, we observed mainly vocal fold polyps, functional diseases of the larynx in the form of hypotonic dysphonia, functional aphonia. Conclusion: representatives of voice and speech professions, including singers, announcers, lecturers and teachers, were observed in the ENT clinic. The most common laryngeal pathologies in these patients were minimal morphological changes in the vocal folds, such as functional hypo and hypertonic dysphonia, as well as phonasthenia. Among the pronounced morphological changes, there were vocal nodules, catarrhal and chronic laryngitis, hemorrhages in the vocal folds, and, in some cases, polypoid formations. The data obtained emphasize the importance of prevention and timely treatment of laryngeal disease, especially in representatives of a profession requiring a high vocal load.

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