Gender and vulnerability to voice problems

Sarah Michiel*, K. Orey*, W, Decoster*, Felix I.C.R.S de Jong

It has been reported that women more frequently seek help for voice problems than men. The question arises if they are more vulnerable to voice problems. Vulnerability to voice problems involves physical, psycho-emotional and environmental features. The aim of this study was to explore the difference of severity, coping and course of voice problems between males and females. This research was a retrospective study in 129 patients who visited the ENT clinic for voice problems. Additionally, a questionnaire regardingphysical, psycho-emotional and environmental factors, and the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) were sent to the patients, who’s treatment was already finished. No difference of duration of the complaints before the visit to the clinic was found between males and females (p = 0.195), nor a difference of VHI total- and subscores (p = 0.293-0.835). No difference of the presence of vocal fold lesions was observed (p = 0.738). Females were found to be significantly more conscious of their voice problems (p = 0.022) and took more initiative of solving the voice problems before the visit to the clinic (p = 0.027). There was a tendency that females were more active in searching help and thought that they could solve the voice problem by theirselves (p > 0.05). The VHI score after the treatment was finished compared to the score at the last visit in the clinic was lower in the females (p = 0.025). The results of this study suggest that women do not have more voice problems per se compared to males but use more active coping strategies to solve their voice problems.

Sarah Michiel*, K. Orey*, W, Decoster*, Felix I.C.R.S de Jong**
* LAW K.U.Leuven, Belgium
**Dep. ENT, Head and Neck Surgery - Lab. Exp. ORL, K.U.Leuven, Belgium