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Impact of voice and swallowing problems in the elderly.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Turley, R; Cohen, S
Published in: Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg
January 2009

OBJECTIVES: 1) Evaluate the prevalence and quality-of-life impact of voice and swallowing problems in the elderly; 2) determine treatment trends and barriers to treatment. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of independent-living residents in two retirement communities. Prevalence of dysphonia and dysphagia, voice-related quality of life (VRQOL), 7-point Likert scale of dysphagia severity, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale, and barriers to treatment were collected. Spearman correlation and ANOVA statistics were performed. RESULTS: A total of 248 residents responded with a mean age of 82.4 years; 19.8 percent had dysphonia, 13.7 percent dysphagia, and 6 percent both. Respondents with more severe swallowing difficulty had greater impairment on the VRQOL (P = 0.04, Spearman correlation = -0.4). Respondents with both dysphonia and dysphagia had greater depression scores than those with neither symptom (mean CES-D score 15.5 vs 9.9, P = 0.009, ANOVA, P < 0.05, Bonferroni t test). Only 22.4 percent and 20.6 percent had sought treatment for dysphonia and dysphagia, respectively. Being unaware of treatment options and viewing voice and swallowing trouble as a normal part of aging were the most common reasons for not seeking treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Voice and swallowing problems are common in the elderly, but they are not realizing potential treatment benefits.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg

DOI

ISSN

0194-5998

Publication Date

January 2009

Volume

140

Issue

1

Start / End Page

33 / 36

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Quality of Life
  • Otorhinolaryngology
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Dysphonia
  • Deglutition Disorders
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Attitude to Health
 

Citation

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Turley, R., & Cohen, S. (2009). Impact of voice and swallowing problems in the elderly. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 140(1), 33–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.otohns.2008.10.010
Turley, Richard, and Seth Cohen. “Impact of voice and swallowing problems in the elderly.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 140, no. 1 (January 2009): 33–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.otohns.2008.10.010.
Turley R, Cohen S. Impact of voice and swallowing problems in the elderly. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2009 Jan;140(1):33–6.
Turley, Richard, and Seth Cohen. “Impact of voice and swallowing problems in the elderly.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, vol. 140, no. 1, Jan. 2009, pp. 33–36. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.otohns.2008.10.010.
Turley R, Cohen S. Impact of voice and swallowing problems in the elderly. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2009 Jan;140(1):33–36.
Journal cover image

Published In

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg

DOI

ISSN

0194-5998

Publication Date

January 2009

Volume

140

Issue

1

Start / End Page

33 / 36

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Quality of Life
  • Otorhinolaryngology
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Dysphonia
  • Deglutition Disorders
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Attitude to Health