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Voice and hyperthyroidism: Subjective voice complaints and alterations of the acoustic parameters of the voice

The influence of thyroid gland dysfunction on voice is barely investigated, particularly the influence of hyperthyroidism. The aim of the study was to investigate the voices of 18 female subjects with hyperthyroidism (mean age 38.2 years) by means of objective voice analysis. The phonation of the vowel /a/ was acoustically analyzed by PRAAT computer program. Additionally, laryngeal and respiratory efficiency was examined by means of maximum phonation/friction time tests. Subjects were asked about subjective voice complaints. The differences in means of objective measurement variables between subjects reporting voice complaints and subjects without complaints were statistically analyzed by the method of t-tests for independent samples. The objective measurement findings showed laryngeal inefficiency and suggest possible laryngeal pathology and dysphonia, with low vocal fundamental frequency being the most remarkable characteristic. Half of the subjects reported subjective voice complaints. Lowered voice pitch and hoarseness were among the most frequent, and are in concordance with objective measurement findings. No significant difference was observed between the two samples of subjects on any objective measurement variable. In conclusion, hyperthyroidism does affect voice. Lowering of the voice pitch and reduced laryngeal efficiency are clinical symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

voice ; hyperthyroidism ; acoustic analysis ; subjective voice complaints ; vocal fundamental frequency F0 ; voice pitch

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