Objective: After exclusion of morphologic laryngeal alterations by laryngoscopy the prospective study compared stroboscopy findings using a flexible distal charge-coupled device chip-optic (CCD-optic) and a rigid 70° - or 90° -laryngoscope.
Material and methods: 52 patients with functional dysphonia and 47 candidates for speech therapy education were checked with both examination methods. The stroboscopy results were rated randomized and pseudonymized by 3 experts assessed by a study protocol according to the European laryngological society basic protocol 2001.
Results: The interrater-reliability was moderate to good. Using the flexible videolaryngoscopy less gaging, less supraglottic contraction during phonation, more often a complete glottal closure and more often a normal mucosal wave movement were found.
Conclusion: To get an optimal endoscopy result the combination of rigid laryngoscopy and flexible videolaryngoscopy and -stroboscopy will be recommended. Because of the variety of stroboscopic findings for the diagnosis of functional dysphonia additional the case history and functional voice examinations are necessary.
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