| Abstract: | Patients with organic or functional voice disorders show a considerable agreement between the individual aerodynamic phonatory pattern and the appearances on indirect laryngoscopy during phonation. Both groups were characterized by incomplete dorsal glottic closure. The aerodynamic data (subglottal pressure and transglottal flow) and the laryngeal efficiency support a pathophysiological explanation of abnormal and breathy voicing. Division of the transglottal flow into modulated and unmodulated parts explains how a better voice will be obtained with equal or lower flow values by relaxation of the musculature. The decreased tension of the muscles also produces phonation with a lower subglottal pressure. The onset of fatigue is therefore delayed. It is concluded that mild adduction disorders are neither organic nor functional disorders. Rather there is a continuum of organic alterations with different laryngeal functional disturbances. |
