Voice Disorders & Treatment Flashcards

A patient presents with a breathy voice quality and bowing of both vocal folds visible on laryngoscopy. This pattern is most consistent with:

Answer: Presbylaryngis

Presbylaryngis (aging larynx) is characterized by vocal fold bowing, atrophy, and resultant breathy voice due to incomplete glottal closure.

Which behavioral voice therapy technique directly targets reducing excessive laryngeal muscle tension by modifying head and neck posture?

Answer: Laryngeal manual therapy

Laryngeal manual therapy involves hands-on manipulation to reduce hypertonic laryngeal musculature and reposition the larynx.

A singer reports pitch breaks and voice fatigue after extended performance. Stroboscopy shows a left-sided vocal fold polyp with irregular mucosal wave. The MOST appropriate initial management is:

Answer: Voice rest followed by behavioral voice therapy

Initial conservative management with voice rest and behavioral therapy is recommended before surgical intervention for vocal fold polyps, particularly in professional voice users.

The maximum phonation time (MPT) is primarily used to assess:

Answer: Glottal efficiency and respiratory support

MPT measures how long a patient can sustain a vowel on one breath, reflecting the combined efficiency of laryngeal valving and respiratory support.

A patient with unilateral vocal fold paralysis in the paramedian position most likely presents with which voice quality?

Answer: Breathy, weak voice with diplophonia

Paramedian paralysis results in incomplete glottal closure, causing breathiness, reduced loudness, and diplophonia due to asymmetric vibration.

Which of the following is a hallmark acoustic characteristic of adductor spasmodic dysphonia?

Answer: Intermittent voice breaks on voiced sounds with strained quality

Adductor spasmodic dysphonia produces hyperadduction spasms causing intermittent strained-strangled voice breaks, especially on vowel-initiated words.

Resonant voice therapy targets voice production primarily by:

Answer: Achieving forward oral vibratory sensations with easy glottal closure

Resonant voice therapy trains patients to perceive oral/facial vibration while maintaining gentle, nearly adducted vocal fold posture for efficient, low-effort phonation.