pH monitoring in patients with benign voice disorders

The aim of this study was to compare oesophageal pH-metry with laryngeal si gns and symptoms in patients suspected of laryngeal reflux disease. A total of GD patients with voice disorders, who were suspected of laryngeal reflu x, were tested by single probe oesophageal pH monitoring, Thirty-two suffer ed from reflux laryngitis. A comparison of symptoms in patients with proven reflux to patients with no reflux was made. The symptoms were more frequen t in the patients in the reflux group than in the non-reflux group. There w as a significant difference between the groups with regard to dysphonia, so re throat, thick mucus and heartburn. Clinical signs appeared more frequent ly in the reflux group than in the non-reflux group. A significant differen ce was found between the groups regarding oedema of the vocal cords and hyp eraemia and oedema of the posterior commisure, contact granuloma, posterior wall granulation and increased muscle tension. The patients in the reflux group were given medical treatment using omeprazole, and 76% logopedic voic e training program. More than 50% of the laryngeal reflux patients were tre ated for more than 4 months before their voice problems had resolved. It is important to realize that signs of reflux laryngitis are not confined to t he posterior commisure.