A DEMOGRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF LARYNGEAL CONTACT ULCER PATIENTS

The voice literature suggests that the "typical" person with contact ulcer of the larynx is a 40-60-year-old man in a vocally demanding occupation who uses a loud, low-pitched voice with a long history of excessive smoking and drinking. A review of 57 contact ulcer case histories revealed that in contrast 21% were female, 44% were younger than 40 or older than 59, 47% were in low-to-average vocal demand occupations, and the incidence of smoking and drinking did not exceed what would be expected in the general population. The findings suggest that contact ulcer patients are similar to patients with other disorders of laryngeal hyperfunction. Voice therapy, pharyngolaryngeal reflux therapy, and surgical removal of granulomas were the most frequently recommended treatments. © 1990 Raven Press, Ltd., New York.