Impact of voice disorders on the quality of life of affected individuals

Abstract

Background: Voice disorders are conditions characterized by abnormalities in voice quality, pitch, loudness, or endurance that interfere with effective communication. Because voice plays a central role in social interaction, education, and occupational performance, such disorders can substantially affect quality of life. Despite growing recognition of their psychosocial consequences, limited evidence exists in local populations regarding how voice disorders influence daily functioning and emotional well-being. Objective: To assess the impact of voice disorders on the quality of life of affected individuals. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted in Lahore, Pakistan, among 110 participants with voice-related complaints recruited using purposive sampling. Data were collected using a structured demographic form and the validated Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were calculated for demographic variables and voice quality ratings, and Pearson correlation analysis was performed to examine the association between perceived voice quality and V-RQOL scores. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 25.0 with a significance threshold of p ≤ 0.05. Results: Among the 110 participants, males and females were equally represented (50% each). Poor voice quality was reported by 40% of participants, while 14.5% reported fair voice quality. The mean V-RQOL score was 32.02 ± 14.23, indicating a moderate impact of voice disorders on quality of life. Correlation analysis demonstrated a statistically significant negative relationship between perceived voice quality and V-RQOL score (r = −0.638, p < 0.001), indicating that worsening voice quality was associated with greater impairment in daily functioning and emotional well-being. Conclusion: Voice disorders significantly affect quality of life by limiting communication ability, emotional stability, and occupational performance. Incorporating patient-reported outcome measures such as the V-RQOL questionnaire into routine voice assessment may improve clinical evaluation and guide more comprehensive management strategies