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Presbifonia : dar voz a um “velho” problema
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A Presbifonia – o envelhecimento da voz – é um problema raramente abordado, muitas vezes esquecido pelos profissionais de saúde e até pelos próprios idosos, a população que dela sofre. Surpreendentemente é, contudo, um problema que tem um grande impacto na qualidade de vida das pessoas mais velhas: a voz é um meio essencial de comunicação, e, quando extremamente alterada, leva a que as pessoas evitem falar perante outras ou em público. Isto acaba por levar a um dos grandes problemas dos nossos dias, na terceira idade: o isolamento social.
A presbifonia define-se por uma série de alterações na voz – tremor, diminuição da intensidade, alteração da frequência, instabilidade, fadiga vocal, entre outros. Estes sintomas são resultado de alterações anatómicas e fisiológicas que ocorrem com a idade. Resultam do envelhecimento da laringe, ou presbilaringe. Para além disso, a voz está dependente do estado de saúde em geral, sendo influenciada por múltiplas patologias.
Estima-se que seja um problema cada vez mais prevalente, pelo aumento da esperança média de vida e pela maior consciência das pessoas face ao seu estado de saúde, levando-as, cada vez mais, a procurarem ajuda médica.
É importante, enquanto profissionais de saúde, estarmos conscientes deste problema e de formas terapêuticas para o resolver. A melhor forma de o abordar, é preveni-lo, cuidando da voz ao longo da vida. A terapia vocal e cirurgia são métodos também eficazes, que atuam sobre os sintomas. Recentemente, comprovou-se que o treino vocal dos cantores ajuda a prevenir estas alterações da voz, atrasando-as em vários anos e melhorando a sua qualidade. Implementar hábitos sociais, como fazer parte de um “coro amador”, de “grupos de leitura, poesia ou debate”, pode ajudar a prevenir a presbifonia e, ao mesmo tempo, ajudar a evitar o isolamento social.
Presbyphonia – or voice aging – is a problem people are rarely aware of, and so many times forgotten by clinicians and the older population itself, the one that is most affected by it. Surprisingly, it is, however, a problem that brings great changes in older people’s quality of life: voice is an essential form of communication, and, when extremely altered, can bring difficulties for elders when speaking to someone else, or in public. This leads to one of the greatest problems of nowadays, in tertiary age: Social Isolation. Presbyphonia is the result of a series of voice alterations – tremor, intensity diminution, frequency changes, instability, and fatigable voice. This symptoms are the result of anatomic and physiological changes that occur with aging; especially laryngeal aging. Furthermore, voice depends on the general health status, and receives influence from multiple pathologies. It is thought to be a growing problem, becoming more prevalent as the population becomes older and more aware of its own health, which brings people to look for clinicians help more frequently. For us, as health professionals, it is important to recognize this problem and to know strategies to prevent or treating it. The best therapy we can offer is prevention, taking care of voice throughout life. Vocal therapy and vocal surgery are effective methods that act over symptoms. Recently, it has been realized that vocal singing training helps preventing voice changes, delaying them in several years, and increasing its quality. To implement social habits, such as, “Choral amateur groups”, or “Reading, poetry or discussion groups”, can prevent presbyphonia and, at the same time, prevent social isolation.
Presbyphonia – or voice aging – is a problem people are rarely aware of, and so many times forgotten by clinicians and the older population itself, the one that is most affected by it. Surprisingly, it is, however, a problem that brings great changes in older people’s quality of life: voice is an essential form of communication, and, when extremely altered, can bring difficulties for elders when speaking to someone else, or in public. This leads to one of the greatest problems of nowadays, in tertiary age: Social Isolation. Presbyphonia is the result of a series of voice alterations – tremor, intensity diminution, frequency changes, instability, and fatigable voice. This symptoms are the result of anatomic and physiological changes that occur with aging; especially laryngeal aging. Furthermore, voice depends on the general health status, and receives influence from multiple pathologies. It is thought to be a growing problem, becoming more prevalent as the population becomes older and more aware of its own health, which brings people to look for clinicians help more frequently. For us, as health professionals, it is important to recognize this problem and to know strategies to prevent or treating it. The best therapy we can offer is prevention, taking care of voice throughout life. Vocal therapy and vocal surgery are effective methods that act over symptoms. Recently, it has been realized that vocal singing training helps preventing voice changes, delaying them in several years, and increasing its quality. To implement social habits, such as, “Choral amateur groups”, or “Reading, poetry or discussion groups”, can prevent presbyphonia and, at the same time, prevent social isolation.
Descrição
Trabalho Final do Curso de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 2017
Palavras-chave
Presbifonia Envelhecimento vocal Terapia vocal no idoso Otorrinolaringologia