Morphological and Functional Aspects of the Senile Larynx

TLDR

The study aims to compare morphological and functional laryngeal features of elderly individuals with those of young adults. A retrospective analysis of 100 laryngeal images—50 from elderly (65–85) and 50 from young adults (20–45)—using rigid endoscopy and stroboscopy assessed symmetry, vocal fold bowing, vocal process prominence, glottic proportion, closure, vestibule behavior, mucosal wave timing and amplitude symmetry, and tremor. Elderly larynges show significant differences from young adults in vocal fold bowing, vocal process prominence, glottic proportion, mucosal wave phase and amplitude symmetry, and tremor.

Abstract

<i>Objective:</i> To analyze the senile larynx, considering morphological aspects during respiration and functional aspects during phonation, comparing it to the young adult larynx. <i>Patients and Methods:</i> A retrospective study was conducted of 100 laryngeal images of adults without vocal complaints, 50 laryngeal images of young adults aged 20–45 years and 50 laryngeal images of elderly individuals aged 65–85 years, of both genders. Images were produced by means of a rigid endoscope and stroboscopy. The morphological aspects analyzed were: laryngeal symmetry, vocal fold bowing, prominence of the vocal process and glottic proportion. The functional aspects analyzed were glottic closure, laryngeal vestibule behavior, phase (timing of closure) and amplitude symmetry of mucosal wave and tremor of laryngeal structures. <i>Results:</i> Significant differences between the young adult larynx and the geriatric larynx were found for the following parameters: vocal fold bowing, prominence of the vocal process, glottic proportion, phase and amplitude symmetry of mucosal wave and tremor of laryngeal structures. <i>Conclusion:</i> The data suggests that the geriatric larynx differs from the young adult larynx in many characteristic aspects.