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Background Radiotherapy (RT) is a successful mode of treatment for early glottic cancer. The aim of the study was to assess voice quality both before and 3 months after successful RT using multimodal methods while also identifying the factors affecting it. Patients and methods In 50 patients with T1 glottic carcinoma, the subjective (patients' assessment of voice quality [VAS], Voice Handicap Index [VHI] questionnaire, phoniatricians' assessment using the grade/roughness/ breathiness [GRB] scale), and objective assessments (fundamental laryngeal frequency [F0], jitter, shimmer, maximum phonation time [MPT]) of voice quality were performed before RT and 3 months post-RT. The data on gender, age, extent of the tumors, biopsy types, smoking, local findings, and RT were obtained from the medical documentation. Results Three months after the treatment, VAS, VHI, G and R scores, F0, and MPT significantly improved in comparison with their assessment prior to treatment. Before the treatment, the involvement of the anterior commissure significantly deteriorated jitter (p = 0.044) and the involvement of both vocal folds deteriorated jitter (p = 0.003) and shimmer (p = 0.007). After the RT, F0 was significantly higher in the patients with repeated biopsy than in the others (p = 0.047). In patients with post-RT changes, the B score was significantly higher than in those without post-RT changes (p = 0.029). Conclusions Voice quality already significantly improved three months after the treatment of glottic cancer. The main reason for the decreased voice quality prior to treatment is the tumor's extent. Post-RT laryngeal changes and repeated biopsies caused more scarring on vocal folds adversely influencing voice quality after the treatment.

Background Dysphagia is a common consequence of treatment for head and neck cancer (HNC). The purpose of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of dysphagia in a group of patients treated for HNC in Slovenia, and to identify factors contributing to the development of dysphagia. Patients and methods One-hundred-nine consecutive patients treated for HNC at two tertiary centers were recruited during their follow-up visits. They fulfilled EORTC QLQ-H&N35 and "Swallowing Disorders after Head and Neck Cancer Treatment questionnaire" questionnaires. Patients with dysphagia were compared to those without it. Results Problems with swallowing were identified in 41.3% of the patients. Dysphagia affected their social life (in 75.6%), especially eating in public (in 80%). Dysphagia was found the most often in the patients with oral cavity and/or oropharyngeal cancer (in 57.6%) and in those treated less than 2 years ago (p = 0.014). In univariate analysis, a significant relationship was observed between dysphagia prevalence and some of the consequences of anti-cancer treatment (impaired mouth opening, sticky saliva, loss of smell, impaired taste, oral and throat pain, persistent cough, and hoarseness), radiotherapy (p = 0.003), and symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux (p = 0.027). After multiple regression modelling only persistent cough remained. Conclusions In order to improve swallowing abilities and, consequently, quality of life of the patients with HNC a systematic rehabilitation of swallowing should be organized. A special emphasis should be given to gastroesophageal reflux treatment before, during and after therapy for HNC.

Objective: Pediatricians often send adolescents with dysphonia to the otorhinolaryngologist's office to find the reason for their hoarseness. The aim of this study was to identify the main characteristics of adolescent voice and to determine which characteristic (variable of voice analysis) can distinguish normal variations of voice development from pathologic disorders., Study Design: On the basis of history, indirect laryngoscopy, and stroboscopy, 51 adolescents (22 boys, 29 girls) from age 10 to 17 years were divided into four subgroups: candidates for singing lessons without voice problems, subjects with mutation voice disorders, subjects with functional dysphonia, and subjects with vocal cord nodules. Voice analysis by Multi-Dimensional Voice Program (Kay Elemetrics) evaluated the fundamental frequency, the variability of pitch and amplitude (loudness), and the presence of noise in the analyzed voice sample of each of the subjects. Data were analyzed with the SPSS+/PC Statistical Program., Results: All mean values of variables that describe variability of pitch and amplitude were abnormal in boys and in girls, with greater abnormality among boys. The variability of loudness and specifically the variability of pitch were abnormal in a majority of subjects. A significant negative correlation between age and fundamental frequency was stated in boys only and between age and variability of amplitude in girls only. Variables that express variability of pitch and amplitude correlated positively between themselves. No significant differences were found between the first subgroup (candidates for singing lessons), which represented a normal population, and the other three subgroups (subjects with mutational disorders, functional dysphonia, and vocal cord nodules). In addition, no significant differences were found between the first three subgroups (subjects without voice problems and subjects with functional voice disorders) and the fourth subgroup (subjects with vocal cord nodules: organic lesion of laryngeal mucosa)., Conclusions: According to this study, the main characteristic of adolescent voice is the instability of amplitude (loudness) and specifically the instability of pitch. Female voices appear more stable than male voices. No single variable of performed voice analysis can distinguish normal variation of voice development from pathologic disorders. The reason for this instability can be attributed to more gradual adaptation of the afferent and efferent nervous control to the rapid growth of the phonatory, respiratory, and resonatory organs. In the growing speech apparatus, optimal phonatory patterns can be created; therefore adolescence is an ideal period for treatment of functional voice disorders.

Introduction: Recurrent otitis media is commonly encountered in children before 3 years of age. Conductive hearing loss up to 40 dB is frequently associated with suppurative otitis media. Good hearing is believed to be critical to the development of normal language. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of recurrent otitis media on auditory perception and speech., Patients and Methods: The experimental group consisted of 33 children with a history of at least three episodes of acute otitis media before 2 years of age. A control group of 29 children experienced one or fewer episodes of otitis media in the first 2 years of age. At the time of investigation, all children were 8 to 10 years of age and had attended similar pre-school, kindergarten, and elementary school programs. None showed evidence of mental retardation nor behavioral or emotional disorders. Speech ability was assessed by a battery of tests specific for Slovene language. Subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children were used as well as the Reading and Writing Test., Results: Auditory perception disorders were evident in 88% of children investigated who had a history of at least three episodes of otitis media by 2 years of age. Decreased auditory stimulation during the time of auditory maturation could prevent the development of these functions completely. No statistically significant differences were observed in the development of articulation. These observations underscore the importance of early management of recurrent otitis media during the first 2 years of age.