Videokymographic Visualization of Phonasthenia: A Nonorganic Voice Disorder.

Background: Phonasthenia is a voice disorder where the larynx looks essentially normal and dysphonia is not heard but felt by the patient. This study aims to use videokymography (VKG) to detect any abnormalities in the vibratory pattern in phonasthenia and to find out whether or not these abnormalities change after vocal loading.

Methods: Thirty-seven phonasthenic patients and 31 normal subjects participated in a detailed protocol, including analysis of subjective complaints and videokymographic quasi-objective parameters (baseline) followed by loading their voices through prolonged loud reading for 45 min.