[Psychogenic mutation of the voice. Comparative analysis of objective and subjective methods of diagnostics].

The present work had the following objectives: 1) to determine (using a computer program) the fundamental frequency or F0 of the colloquial speech and sonorous cough in the patients with psychogenic mutation of the voice, 2) to obtain subjective (audile) estimation of the quality of their voice, and 3) to develop relevant diagnostic criteria. The study included 10 men aged from 14 to 40 years diagnosed with mutational falsetto (n=5) and incomplete mutation of the voice (n=5). The quality of the voice was independently estimated by three experts. All the patients were exmined using laryngoscopy and laryngostroboscopy. It was demonstrated that mutational falsetto can be diagnosed by subjective estimation of the quality of voice whereas diagnostics of partial voice mutation is possible only with the use of a computer. The author concludes that the fundamental frequency (F0) of sonorous cough is an important diagnostic criterion for psychogenic voice mutation.