The elderly population is growing, and with it, the prevalence of voice disorders such as presbyphonia. Understanding the mechanisms behind these changes and how to treat them is essential for practitioners. A recent review article titled The Elderly Voice: Mechanisms, Disorders and Treatment Methods offers valuable insights that can help improve your skills and encourage further research.
Key Findings from the Research
- Voice changes with age due to various factors such as diseases, hormones, and medications.
- Common complaints include hoarseness, vocal fatigue, breathy voice, and decreased volume.
- Voice disorders can negatively impact the quality of life, leading to social isolation and depression.
Implementing Research Outcomes
As a practitioner, you can enhance your skills by integrating these research findings into your practice:
- Conduct comprehensive assessments that include medical history, physical examination, and acoustic voice analysis.
- Utilize videostroboscopy to detect vocal cord abnormalities and glottal incompetence.
- Incorporate voice therapy and consider tele-practice as an alternative for patients who cannot attend in-person sessions.
- Explore surgical options for severe cases, such as injection laryngoplasty or medialization thyroplasty.
Encouraging Further Research
Continued research is vital to develop more effective treatment methods and improve patient outcomes. Consider collaborating with researchers and participating in studies to stay updated on the latest advancements in the field.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: The Elderly Voice: Mechanisms, Disorders and Treatment Methods.
