Effetto dell'intervento foniatrico su variabili foniatriche e di personalità in un gruppo di pazienti con disfonia disfunzionale.

Despite the etiology of dysfunctional dysphonia is not yet fully elucidated, it seems that psychological and personality factors play a key role: the voice is an expression of personality and mood. The aim of this study was to verify and understand the presence of correlations between dysfunctional dysphonia and depressive and anxious symptoms, to assess the psychology and the personality of dysphonic patient, to monitor the short term effects of a speech and language therapy and finally to select a tool that is able to identify psychiatric symptoms in adults dysphonic patients with dysfunctional dysphonia. Our population consisted of 20 female patients which have undergone the following examinations: a fibrolaringioscopic test, a classification of voice in a speech and language perspective, an evaluation of symptoms related to perception (GIRBAS). In addition, they have filled out six questionnaires: Voice Handicap Index (VHI), Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Zung Self Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Multidimensional Locus of Control Scale (MHLC), powerlessness test and self-esteem test. Our findings confirmed the positive association of dysfunctional dysphonia with depressive and anxious symptoms, underscoring the fundamental importance of considering psychological and personality aspects for a broader comprehension of the dysfunctional dysphonia. Tests proved to be an useful tool to gather relevant data for a more multidimensional approach in therapy that should be able to combine targeted individual psychological monitoring with phoniatric techniques.