Clinics in Geriatric Medicine · Apr 18, 2018

Voice Disorders in the Elderly

By Kost KM, Sataloff RT

Presbyphonia is more common than appreciated by most physicians, and it is associated with undesirable vocal characteristics such as hoarseness, weakness, breathiness, instability, and tremulousness. Hearing impairment in the patient or his or her friends, family, and associates exacerbates the problem, resulting in depression and social withdrawal, further reducing quality of life. Moreover, voice weakness and instability are all too often misinterpreted as reflecting intellectual instability. Expert diagnosis, medical treatment, voice therapy and training, and occasionally surgery usually can maintain or restore vocal stability and "youth."

doi.org/10.1016/j.cger.2018.01.010PubMed 29661332Interventions