Arytenoid adduction asymmetries in persons with and without voice disorders.

Asymmetry of the arytenoid complex is considered when evaluating a patient for a voice disorder. This study sought to determine if there were differences in arytenoid adduction asymmetry in persons with and without voice disorders. Three aspects of arytenoid adduction asymmetry were judged from still frames of the arytenoids in the adducted position from stroboscopy recordings of 52 vocally normal speakers and 54 persons with voice disorders. Asymmetry of the arytenoids was prevalent in both normophonic and dysphonic speakers. The lack of strong differences in the prevalence of arytenoid asymmetries in the adducted position between normophonic and dysphonic speakers suggests that caution should be taken when using these asymmetries as indicator of or related to a voice disorder.