The Prevalence of Self-Reported Voice Disorders in Israel

Objective: Data on the prevalence of voice disorders is vital in order to describe and understand the phenomenon. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of voice disorders in Israel, and perform a preliminary comparison between the two major societies in the country. Methods: A sample of 1146 people participated in a survey on voice disorders. This sample comprised 510 Israeli Jews and 627 Israeli Arabs. Each participant completed a questionnaire concerned with voice and its disorders as well as the shortened Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10). Results: The overall prevalence of voice disorders within our sample was 13.90%. In addition, 30.26% of the participants reported experiencing a voice problem over the last year, while 12.81% reported seeing a physician for that reason. No significant differences were found in the prevalence of voice disorders between participants who identified themselves as either Jews or Arabs. A higher prevalence of voice disorders was found in the older age groups, and among people who reside in the southern region of the country. In contrast, no significant differences in the prevalence of reported voice disorders were found between men and women. Conclusion: The prevalence of reported voice disorders in Israel is comparable with previous prevalence reports from other regions and societies. Data show that despite cultural, religion, language, and other factors, the prevalence of voice disorder among Israeli Jews and Arabs is very similar.