[Management and therapy in functional aphonia: analysis of 500 cases].

Introduction: The article reviews current opinions on etiopathogenesis and management of functional total loss of the ability to produce loud voice. Psychogenic aphonia refers to involuntary whispering despite a basically normal larynx.

Material And Methods: [corrected] The longitudinal study was carried out on 500 patients treated for psychogenic aphonia during 32 years (1972-2004).

[Cochlear implantation by lateral petrosectomy].

Cochlear implantation by facial recess is nowadays the approach of choice in normal anatomical conditions in the middle and inner ear. When deafness is coincident with chronic otitis media or partial obliteration of the cochlea, others approaches can be applied. Authors presented lateral petrosectomy as an approach for cochlear implantation in two cases.

[Selected issues of health certification among teachers].

The authors propose a standardized model of phoniatric consultations aimed at certifying occupational diseases of the organ of voice. The study included the administration of an expanded questionnaire, laryngological and phoniatric examinations, stroboscopy and determination of the voice acoustic parameters essential in assessing the phonatory function of the larynx. A four-scale hoarness by Yanagihara was employed in the consulting examination and the measurement was taken for three vowels.

[Dysphonia as the first sign of myasthenia gravis].

Ten cases of myasthenia are presented in which dysphonia was the initial sign. Isolated signs of dysphonia continued for several months or years, presenting diagnostic difficulties. Eventually neurologic examination followed by electrophysiological investigation (classical repetitive nerve stimulation and single fibre EMG) as well as edrophonium test allowed proper diagnosis of myasthenia, then confirmed by the clinical course.

[Myasthenia preceded by dysphonia. Clinical and electrophysical study].

The solely dysphonia symptom as atypical and relatively rare onset of myasthenia gravis is difficult to diagnose. We present 11 cases of myasthenia, where dysphonia was one and only one symptom of illness during several months to several years. The evidences of dysphonia were the fatigability and nasality of speech, as well as chronic hoarseness.

[Evaluation of the effect of chronic steroid inhalation therapy on the state of the upper airway in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of chronic steroid inhalation therapy on the upper airways in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 44 patients with a first time diagnosis of COPD were evaluated. 22 (11 males, 11 females) were treated with Beclomethasone (1 mg per day) for 6 months.

[Inhalation therapy of upper respiratory tract diseases in metallurgists at the Ciechocinek health resort].

Since 1972, 265 metallurgists of the Warsaw Steel-works have been treated at the ENT Department, Research Centre in Ciechocinek, for chronic atropic catarrh of upper respiratory tract mucous membrane. The treatment involved saline inhalations, respiratory exercises at a saline pool and in the open air near chimney coolers. Pathological changes were found in the mucous membrane of the metallurgists working over 5 years at high temperature and in great dustiness, and the ailments were getting intensified with the length of employment.