Incidence and nature of functional voice disorders

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BACKGROUND: Functional voice disorders (FVDs) result from inefficient vocal use without an organic cause and have an underreported incidence. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the incidence and nature of FVDs among treatment-seeking patients at a private interdisciplinary voice clinic in Pretoria, South Africa. METHOD: A retrospective quantitative design was used to analyse data from 86 patients diagnosed with FVDs between January 2017 and July 2022. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied. RESULTS: The incidence rate of FVDs was 16.67% among 516 patients with voice disorders. The primary diagnosis was muscle tension dysphonia (MTD), affecting 80.2% of cases. The most common secondary diagnosis was laryngeal pharyngeal reflux (LPR) at 39.5%. Hoarseness was the most reported symptom. No significant differences were found between occupational and non-occupational voice users. CONCLUSION: The findings clarify the incidence and nature of FVDs in the South African context.Contribution: It underscores the need for greater awareness of FVDs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) as well as future research on prevention and management strategies.