Psychological factors associated with functional dysphonia and vocal nodules in adults

Purpose:  to review the literature on the psychological factors associated with functional dysphonia and vocal nodules in adults, making a comparison between these vocal disorders; to analyse on the existence or not of specific personality profiles was made for these individuals and the for the evaluation on which contributions this understanding brings for voice treatment.

Methods:  research of the literature about Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Psychology and Medicine.

Results:  there is not consonance among authors about the subject and many of the studies have methodological inadequacies. Some authors have progressed in their researches and began to describe different personality profiles for individuals with functional dysphonia and individuals with vocal nodules. However, further researches with adequate methodology are needed to corroborate or not some of these hypothesis, also in Brazil.

Conclusion:  improved understanding of the psychological factors influence may help to refine treatment strategies and explain voice treatment failure and elucidate flaws in speech therapy treatment.

KEYWORDS:
Speech; Language and Hearing Sciences; Psychology; Voice Disorders; Personality; Stress; Psychological