Larynx: presbyphonia: practice question

A ENT question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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ENT · Larynx: presbyphonia

Sample item

A 75-year-old retired teacher has a weak, breathy, tiring voice. Stroboscopy shows bilateral bowing of the vocal folds with a glottic gap and prominent vocal processes. What is the first-line treatment?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Voice therapy, with medialisation procedures for selected persistent cases

Presbyphonia results from age-related atrophy of the thyroarytenoid muscle, giving bowed folds. Voice therapy strengthens glottic closure and is first-line. Injection laryngoplasty or thyroplasty may be offered if therapy fails.

Option by option

  • A. Voice therapy, with medialisation procedures for selected persistent cases (correct)

    Correct. Therapy first, with medialisation reserved for failure.

  • B. Radiotherapy

    Radiotherapy has no role in atrophy.

  • C. Tracheostomy

    The airway is not compromised.

  • D. Total laryngectomy

    Laryngectomy is for malignancy.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is A, Voice therapy, with medialisation procedures for selected persistent cases. Presbyphonia results from age-related atrophy of the thyroarytenoid muscle, giving bowed folds.

Why is "Radiotherapy" not the answer?

Radiotherapy has no role in atrophy.

Why is "Tracheostomy" not the answer?

The airway is not compromised.

Why is "Total laryngectomy" not the answer?

Laryngectomy is for malignancy.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Larynx: presbyphonia in ENT. Voice therapy strengthens glottic closure and is first-line. Injection laryngoplasty or thyroplasty may be offered if therapy fails.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Larynx: presbyphonia?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.