Name: Isabella Diaz Date: 4/1/2015Related Chapter: Phonation

CGSC378Case Study

Diagnosis: Ventricular Phonation (Also known as ventricular dysphonia/dysphonia plica ventricularis)What is it? Using false or ventricular folds for voicing rather than the true vocal folds. Voice quality: The voice sounds very rough and strained, sometimes not quite human, limited in pitch and volume.Incidence/Prevalence: From what Ive found online, it seems as though this disorder is not very common and is poorly understood. There was a lack of information about the incidence of this disorder. However, an article published by Kendall and Leonard in 1997 reports a prevalence of ventricular phonation of 6%. I also found that the estimated incidence of hoarseness following ventricular phonation is 4%. Demographics: Ventricular phonation can be found across the lifespan and there is no evidence of it being prominent in one sex over the other. There was a lack of information regarding demographics of this disorder; however since vocal fold dysfunction can be found across the lifespan it makes sense that ventricular phonation is also found in all ages since vocal fold dysfunction can lead to ventricular phonation. Etiology re: Anatomy/Physiology: Ventricular phonation can be a result of excessive muscular tension in the laryngeal area. When a great amount of muscle tension above the vocal folds is created in the laryngeal area it can cause an approximation of the false vocal folds. Ventricular phonation can also be an adaptive response to severe vocal fold dysfunction such as growths on the folds. When true vocal fold vibration is physically impossible, vibration of the false folds comes into play. Speech/language Sample*: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6Cr1shry28https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp0rjEaiEE8 (voice sample) Evidence-based treatment: Speech therapy is used to correct this problem. If this therapy fails and ventricular phonation persists, surgical procedures can be pursued. Some surgical options include excision of the false vocal folds or using a CO2 laser for excision of redundant mucosa and connective tissue of the false vocal folds. Therapy should be chosen based on the underlying cause of the abnormalities.