Voice problems do not get the medical care and attention it deserves in America, because two-thirds of sufferers are not aware of the available treatment or they feel it will just go away.

An estimated 20 million Americans have dysphonia, the clinical umbrella term for a hoarse or raspy voice that can cause pain when speaking and make it difficult to communicate effectively. Previous data link dysphonia to decreased work productivity and social isolation. Patients also incur financial burdens including rising health care costs. Overall, economic losses have been estimated in the billions.
"Dysphonia affects everyone at every age," says Cohen, author of the study that appears online in the journal Laryngoscope. "You don't have to have a vocally demanding job to suffer."
There's a host of conditions that lead to dysphonia, including tobacco, alcohol and caffeine use, certain medications, voice overuse/misuse, hearing loss, dry mouth and reflux. Dysphonia can also be sign of something more serious, like asthma, lung disease, Parkinson's or laryngneal cancer.
"You have no idea what is causing the problem or what the appropriate treatment should be until an evaluation is performed," says Cohen. That requires the use of a laryngoscope that threads a camera down the throat so doctors can determine the medical cause.
Few dysphonia patients go that route.
Advertisement
When asked why they didn't seek treatment:
Advertisement
- 30.4 percent did not know options for treatments were available;
- 33.3 percent thought the problem would go away on its own;
- 26.1 percent didn't seek care because their physician didn't asked about vocal problems;
- 14.5 percent thought dysphonia was due to aging;
- 7.2 percent cited expense and insurance coverage;
- 4.3 percent cited travel limitations.
Cohen says it's important for patients to understand that vocal disorders can get progressively worse when left alone.
"Patients who don't seek treatment get caught in a vicious cycle. As the problem becomes more chronic, patients seem to be accepting it, but that won't make the situation better," he says.
Rather than take vocal disorders for granted, Cohen stresses, "Patients need to become better advocates for their own health. They should talk to their doctor so they can get appropriately evaluated and a personalized treatment plan can be developed."
Source-Eurekalert