Prevalence of dysphagia in dysphonic patients with non-neoplastic vocal fold lesions

Abstract

Background: Dysphagia is the swallowing difficulties and trouble to move liquids, solids, medications and may be saliva from the mouth down to the stomach and is considered a serious red flag or alarm symptom. Aim of the Work: to examine the prevalence of dysphagia on basis of subjective and objective measures in patients with the presenting symptom of dysphonia and diagnosed with non-neoplastic vocal fold lesions to consider the potential benefit of swallowing therapy hand in hand with the chosen management line of voice problem in the treatment of these patients if proved to have high prevalence of dysphagia. Subjects and Methods: This study was applied on 50 patients diagnosed as being dysphonic secondary to non-neoplastic vocal fold lesions on objective and clinical measures, attending at the Phoniatric outpatient clinic at El-Demerdash hospital and Ain Shams University Specialized hospital, ranging in age from 15-50 years. Results: After the application of the A-EAT-10 questionnaire on 50 dysphonic patients who were selected to participate in this study, 12 cases (about 24%) were considered dysphagic by score above 3 and underwent VFSS. Within these 12 patients, Zero percent were found complaining of dysphagia according to VFSS. So there is No Correlation between frequencies of dysphagia by A-EAT-10 and by VFSS. Conclusion: The present study showed that non-neoplastic vocal fold lesions are not an etiological factor for dysphagia despite the intricacy in the neuromuscular supply of pharynx and larynx. Diagnosis of Dysphagia can’t be confirmed depending only on subjective screening tools like A-EAT-10.