Objective
To determine the prevalence of abnormal laryngeal findings during videostroboscopy
in performers presenting to clinic or when having an acute vocal emergency.
Study design
Retrospective study of professional singers and actors who presented for a vocal evaluation.
Subjects and Methods
A chart review of singers or professional actors who presented in a private otorhinolaryngology
clinic between 2014 and 2016. The prevalence of laryngeal lesions noted on stroboscopy
were reviewed. The RFS (reflux finding score) was calculated and the exams that presented
RFS greater than or equal to seven were considered suspicious of laryngopharyngeal
reflux (LPR).
Results
A total of 140 records of actors and singers were evaluated either for routine evaluation
or for an acute emergency. Sulcus vocalis was the most prevalent lesion 36% (n = 33),
followed by cyst 27% (n = 25) and acute laryngitis, 14% (n = 13). Thirty-seven (26.4%)
performers were treated for emergence due to dysphonia, Emergency dysphonia, mostly
due to viral infection, was treated with steroids and speech therapy, with improvement
of symptoms after treatment. Of these professionals, 83.8% (31) presented with a structural
lesion or infection in the vocal folds, while 16.2% presented with dysphonia, which
required emergency care without a structural lesion in the vocal folds. (P<0.05) Eighty-nine percent (33) of the professionals presenting with a voice emergency
with dysphonia (37) were treated with corticosteroids. Thirty-three percent (n = 47)
of the professionals presented with RFS scores ≥7. Nineteen professionals (40%) with
signs of LPR were treated for emergency due to dysphonia. The professionals with signs
of LPR had more emergency dysphonia than those who did not suspect LPR. (19.4%) (P = 0.008).
Conclusion
Vocal emergencies in professionals are common in a private laryngology practice and
require specialized assessment. The most prevalent lesions in the study were vocal
sulcus. LPR is common in this group as noted both by findings with videostroboscopy
and the RFS
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 28, 2021
Accepted:
February 1,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
