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ERIC Number: EJ826742
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Feb
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1092-4388
EISSN: N/A
Exploring Genetic and Environmental Effects in Dysphonia: A Twin Study
Simberg, Susanna; Santtila, Pekka; Soveri, Anna; Varjonen, Markus; Sala, Eeva; Sandnabba, N. Kenneth
Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, v52 n1 p153-163 Feb 2009
Purpose: To explore the existence of genetic effects as well as the interaction between potential genetic effects and a voice-demanding occupation on dysphonia. Method: One thousand seven hundred and twenty-eight Finnish twins (555 male; 1,173 female) born between 1961 and 1989 completed a questionnaire concerning vocal symptoms and occupation. The zygosity determination resulted in 125 monozygotic and 108 dizygotic full twin pairs. A composite variable called "dysphonia" was formed by summing 6 vocal symptoms based on the results of a factor analysis. Twin model fitting was used to explore the contribution of genetic and environmental effects on the dysphonia variable. Results: Individual differences in dysphonia were explained by genetic effects (35%) and nonshared environmental effects (65%). Shared environmental effects were estimated at 0%. Also, the authors found that for the participants who worked in voice-demanding occupations, the causes of dysphonia were more environmental, whereas the etiology of the symptoms was more strongly affected by genes in the participants with less voice-demanding occupations. However, this gene-environment interaction was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Both genetic and environmental factors have an impact on the etiology of voice problems. Environmental factors, either independently or interacting with genetic factors, seem to play the key role, especially if the person has a voice-demanding occupation.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). 10801 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852. Tel: 800-638-8255; Fax: 301-571-0457; e-mail: subscribe@asha.org; Web site: http://jslhr.asha.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Finland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A