METHODS: Sixteen patients were recruited for voice analysis during pre-operative, within two weeks and at least three months post-operatively. Subjective questionnaire was used to assess perception of voice changes.
RESULTS: There were no statistically significant changes in the acoustic parameters of patients with nasal polyposis. In patients with CRS without polyps, there was a statistically significant increase in fundamental frequency (F0) in nasal sound during early follow up. The changes in soft phonation index (SPI) values between the two groups were statistically significant during early follow-ups. Only patients with nasal polyposis perceived a subjective change in their voice post-operatively.
CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should inform all patients, especially voice professionals about the possible effects of endoscopic sinus surgeries on their voice quality.
METHODS: This study was divided into two phases. Phase I tested the reliability of the Malay-VHI-10 while Phase II was a cross-sectional study with two-stage sampling. In Phase II, a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and teaching characteristics, depression, anxiety and stress scale (Malay version of DASS-21); and health-related quality of life (Malay version of SF12-v2). Complex sample analysis was conducted using multivariate Poisson regression with robust variance.
RESULTS: In Phase I, the Spearman correlation coefficient and Cronbach alpha for total VHI-10 score was 0.72 (p < 0.001) and 0.77 respectively; showing good correlation and internal consistency. The ICCs ranged from 0.65 to 0.78 showing fair to good reliability and demonstrating the subscales to be reliable and stable. A total of 6039 teachers participated in Phase II. They were primarily Malays, females, married, had completed tertiary education and aged between 30 to 50 years. A total of 10.4% (95% CI 7.1, 14.9) of the teachers had voice disorder (VHI-10 score > 11). Compared to Malays, a greater proportion of ethnic Chinese teachers reported voice disorder while ethnic Indian teachers were less likely to report this problem. There was a higher prevalence ratio (PR) of voice disorder among single or divorced/widowed teachers. Teachers with voice disorder were more likely to report higher rates of absenteeism (PR: 1.70, 95% CI 1.33, 2.19), lower quality of life with lower SF12-v2 physical (0.98, 95% CI 0.96, 0.99) and mental (0.97, 95% CI 0.96, 0.98) component summary scales; and higher anxiety levels (1.04, 95% CI 1.02, 1.06).
CONCLUSIONS: The Malay-VHI-10 is valid and reliable. Voice disorder was associated with increased absenteeism, marginally associated with reduced health-related quality of life as well as increased anxiety among teachers.
METHODS: Two middle-aged women with vagal paraganglioma undergoing an excision operation underwent immediate selective laryngeal reinnervation using the phrenic nerve and ansa cervicalis as the donor nerve. Multidimensional outcome measures were employed pre-operatively, and at 1, 6 and 12 months post-operatively.
RESULTS: The voice handicap index-10 score improved from 23 (patient 1) and 18 (patient 2) at 1 month post-operation, to 5 (patient 1) and 1 (patient 2) at 12 months. The Eating Assessment Tool 10 score improved from 20 (patient 1) and 24 (patient 2) at 1 month post-operation, to 3 (patient 1) and 1 (patient 2) at 12 months. There was slight vocal fold abduction observed in patient one and no obvious abduction in patient two.
CONCLUSION: Selective reinnervation is safe to perform following vagal paraganglioma excision conducted on the same side. Voice and swallowing improvements were demonstrated, but no significant vocal fold abduction was achieved.