Voice disorders in professional voice users in Turkey: clinical and epidemiologic characteristics

Aim: Professional voice users are individuals whose professional performance depends partially or entirely on effective voice use. This group includes occupations such as teachers, clergy members, singers, actors, and call center employees. The aim of this study was to evaluate the demographic characteristics and videolaryngostroboscopic diagnoses of professional voice users presenting with voice complaints in Turkey.Material and Methods: This retrospective study included 162 professional voice users evaluated at the voice outpatient clinics of two tertiary referral hospitals. Previously recorded clinical data of patients who underwent videolaryngostroboscopic examination for voice complaints were reviewed following ethics committee approval. Voice disorders were classified as organic, functional, or neurogenic based on videolaryngostroboscopic findings.Results: The mean age of the participants was 39.5 ± 11.0 years; 53.1% (n = 86) were male and 46.9% (n = 76) were female. Occupationally, 42.0% (n = 68) were teachers, 27.2% (n = 44) were clergy members, 26.5% (n = 43) were opera singers and musicians, and 4.3% (n = 7) were call center employees, actors, and lawyers. The most common diagnoses were bilateral vocal fold nodules (37.7%, n = 61), followed by muscle tension dysphonia (22.6%, n = 36) and vocal fold polyps (19.1%, n = 31). Other diagnoses included vocal fold cysts (6.8%, n = 11), Reinke’s edema (6.2%, n = 10), sulcus vocalis (3.7%, n = 6), and vocal fold paralysis (3.1%, n = 5).Conclusions: Videolaryngostroboscopic evaluation provides valuable clinical information for identifying underlying voice disorders in professional voice users. The findings of this study offer important clinic-based data reflecting the distribution of voice disorders among a broad range of professional voice users in Turkey and emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and preventive strategies in this special patient population.