Puberphonia, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.

. Chapters 0:00 Introduction 1:08 Causes of Puberphonia 1:48 Symptoms of Puberphonia 2:00 Diagnosis of Puberphonia 2:13 Treatment of Puberphonia Puberphonia (also known as mutational falsetto, functional falsetto, incomplete mutation, adolescent falsetto, or pubescent falsetto) is a functional voice disorder that is characterized by the habitual use of a high-pitched voice after puberty, hence why many refer to the disorder as resulting in a ‘falsetto’ voice.[1] The voice may also be heard as breathy, rough, and lacking in power.[2] The onset of puberphonia usually occurs in adolescence, between the ages of 11 and 15 years, at the same time as changes related to puberty are occurring.[2] This disorder usually occurs in the absence of other communication disorders. There is a higher male prevalence of puberphonia, as the voice disorder is characterized by a high pitch that would be inappropriate for the age and gender of the patient.[1] Typically, individuals with puberphonia do not present with underlying anatomical abnormalities. Instead, the disorder is usually psychogenic in nature, meaning resulting from psychological or emotional factors,[3] and stems from inappropriate use of the voice mechanism. The habitual use of a high pitch while speaking is associated with tense muscles surrounding the vocal folds.[4] Assessment and treatment of puberphonia is usually conducted by a speech-language pathologist (S-LP) or an otolaryngologist (ENT).[5][6] Puberphonia is not a disorder that is likely to go away on its own. Without treatment, the changes in the patient’s voice can become permanent.[2] Treatment can involve direct voice therapy, indirect voice therapy, or audiovisual feedback.[5]