STUDIA PHONOLOGICA V (1970) Factor Analysis of Hoarseness

Hoarseness is frequently the sole symptom of diverse laryngeal diseases. The terminology "hoarseness " includes, however, a wide variety of deviation from the normal voice. Differentiation or classification of hoarseness may be utilized as an adjunct diagnostic means for laryngeal diseases. Furthermore, classification of hoarseness established on the objective basis, together with the clinical findings of the larynx corresponding to each type of hoarseness, would contribute to elucidat-ing the mechanism of hoarse voice production, of which very little is known now. Clinically, classification and gradation of hoarseness would be useful for judging the effect of treatment. The bases on which hoarseness can be classified would be 1. source disease 2. mech:lnism of hoarse voice production or 3. acoustic features. As mentioned above, the purpose of classification of hoarseness is to contribute to differential diagnosis of laryngeal disease and to a better understanding of the mechanism for hoarse voice production. Therefore, classification of voice should be made on the basis ofacoustic features ofvoice, independently of the other findings