A Structured Pre- and Post-Operative Voice Therapy Program for Benign Vocal Fold Lesions

Benign vocal fold lesions (BVFLs) are acquired structural anomalies of the vocal folds, and these are primarily a result of vocal abuse or phonotrauma. Phonotraumatic lesions are not generally regarded as recurrent, provided that appropriate behavioral changes are made after resolution or surgical removal. Voice therapy plays a crucial role in this aspect. The aim of this article is to propose a structured pre- and post-operative voice therapy program for patients undergoing surgical intervention for BVFLs. Voice therapy post-surgery has been proven to reduce the rate of recurrence in BVFLs. Having a standard treatment protocol is a useful tool for the therapist, particularly one without extensive voice training.

Las lesiones benignas de los pliegues vocales (LBPV) son anomalías estructurales adquiridas de los pliegues vocales, y son principalmente el resultado de un abuso vocal o fonotrauma. Las lesiones fonotraumáticas generalmente no se consideran recurrentes, siempre que se realicen cambios apropiados en el comportamiento después de la resolución o la excisión quirúrgica. La terapia vocal juega un papel crucial en este aspecto. El objetivo de este artículo es proponer un programa estructurado de terapia de voz pre y postoperatorio para pacientes que son expuestos a una intervención quirúrgica para LBPV. Se ha demostrado que la terapia de voz después de la cirugía reduce la tasa de recurrencia en LBPV. Tener un protocolo de tratamiento estándar es una herramienta útil para el terapeuta, particularmente uno sin un entrenamiento extenso en patología de la voz.

Preliminary analysis of the effect of individualized voice therapy on pediatric voice disorders / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective:To determine the effectiveness of individualized voice therapy in persistent pediatric voice disorders. Methods:Thirty-eight children who were admitted to the Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University due to persistent voice disorder from November 2021 to October 2022 were included. All children were evaluated by dynamic laryngoscopy before voice therapy. Two voice doctors performed GRBAS score and acoustic analysis on the children's voice samples to obtain the relevant parameters including F0, Jitter, Shimmer, and MPT; All children were given personalized voice therapy for 8 weeks. Results:Among 38 children with voice disorders, 75.8%（29 cases） were diagnosed with vocal nodules, 20.6%（8 cases） were vocal polyps, and 3.4%（1 case） were vocal cysts. And in all children. And 51.7%（20 cases） had the sign of supraglottic extrusion under dynamic laryngoscopy. GRBAS scores decreased from 1.93 ± 0.62, 1.82 ± 0.55, 0.98 ± 0.54, 0.65 ± 0.48, 1.05 ± 0.52 to 0.62 ± 0.60, 0.58 ± 0.53, 0.32 ± 0.40, 0.22 ± 0.36, 0.37 ± 0.36. F0, Jitter, Shimmer decreased from（243.11±39.73） Hz, （0.85±0.99）%, （9.96±3.78）% to（225.43±43.20） Hz, （0.33±0.57）%, （7.72±4.32）%, respectively MPT was prolonged from（5.82±2.30） s to（7.87±3.21） s after treatment. All parameters changes had statistical significance. Conclusion:Voice therapy can solve children's voice problems, improve their voice quality and effectively treat children's voice disorders.

Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of URICA-Voice scale / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective:To translate the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment of voice scale（URICA-Voice） into Chinese and test its reliability and validity. Methods:The URICA-Voice scale was converted into Chinese by literal translation, cultural adjustment, expert consultation, pre-investigation, and back translation. Convenience sampling was used to recruit patients at four speech therapy centers from February to May 2022. Then the Chinese version of the scale was distributed to them, and the reliability and validity of the scale were tested after data collection. Cronbach ɑ was used to evaluate the reliability. The critical ratio method and Pearson correlation coefficient were used for item analysis. Item-level content validity, scale-level content validity, and confirmatory factor analysis were used to test the validity of the scale. Results:A total of 247 valid questionnaires were collected. ①Item analysis: the critical ratios between a high-score and low-score groups of 32 items were all statistically significant（P<0.01） and all the critical ratios were above 3.00. The Pearson correlation between 32 items and the total score was significant（P<0.01）. ②Validity analysis: I-CVI=1.00, S-CVI/Ave=1.00, χ²/df=2.30, RMSEA=0.07. Except for item 9 and 23, the standardized factor loading coefficients of other items were all above 0.50. AVE of the four dimensions of the scale was all above 0.50, and the combined reliability of the four dimensions was all above 0.70. The correlation coefficients between dimensions were less than the square root of the AVE of the dimension itself. ③Reliability analysis: the Cronbach ɑ of the whole scale was 0.94, and the Cronbach ɑ of the four dimensions were 0.88, 0.92, 0.94, and 0.88 respectively. Conclusion:The Chinese version of URICA-Voice has good reliability and validity, and can be used as a specific measurement tool for evaluating the compliance of voice training in China.

Feasibility of speech telerehabilitation for a patient with Parkinson's Disease in a low-resource country during the pandemic: A case report

@#Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic, neurodegenerative condition resulting in various motor impairments, including speech disorders. However, at the height of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, a patient with PD could not access traditional in-person neurorehabilitation care. This case report highlights the feasibility of telerehabilitation to deliver speech therapy over a distance using available resources in a developing country. We describe a Filipino elderly woman, public speaker, and marriage counselor, seeking teleconsultation for her voice problems (slow and soft) attributed to PD. At that time, most center-based outpatient rehabilitation centers in Manila were closed due to the pandemic, and the patient preferred to stay at home for safety reasons. Hence, she was evaluated and managed remotely by an interdisciplinary team (neurologist, physiatrist, speech-language pathologist) through video calls. Since the ideal rehabilitation set up (in-person evaluation and therapy; use of Lee Silverman Voice Therapy) could not be done, the clinicians had to find practical alternatives, such as remotely administering subjective perceptual voice assessments, objective speech analysis using the Praat™ computer application, and speech teletherapy through synchronous (videocalls, phone calls) and asynchronous (e-mails, text messages, pre-recorded exercise videos) techniques. Notable speech improvements were observed by the clinicians, patient, and patient’s frequent communicative partners after at least four teletherapy sessions. However, the carry-over of the improvements was affected by the patient’s lack of compliance with the prescribed home exercise program. Telerehabilitation using synchronous and asynchronous techniques for speech disorders due to PD was found feasible, beneficial, safe, and practical amid social distancing and low resources in a developing country

Estructura de los objetivos terapéuticos en la intervención fonoaudiológica de usuarios con necesidades vocales: una revisión sistemática exploratoria / Structure of therapeutic goals in the speech therapy intervention of users with vocal needs: an exploratory systematic review

Esta revisión tiene como finalidad identificar y describir la estructura de los objetivos terapéuticos incluidos en aquellas investigaciones que explicitan una intervención fonoaudiológica vocal durante los últimos cinco años. La búsqueda estratégica se lleva a cabo en las bases de datos PubMed, Science Direct y Web Of Science y se obtienen 3.974 registros, de los cuales 12 artículos cumplen con todas las condiciones declaradas en los criterios de inclusión. La tendencia mayoritaria en la literatura del área es la omisión de los objetivos terapéuticos y la alusión solo a los procedimientos empleados. En el análisis cualitativo de los objetivos hallados, se evidencia la ausencia de una estructura textual estándar y falta de diferenciación entre los tipos de objetivos, lo que provoca un alto grado de heterogeneidad en su redacción. En relación con la noción de usuario, su rol es más bien secundario y pasivo. Existe insuficiente atención a la determinación de criterios de logro y una escasa operacionalización de los contenidos a abordar en la intervención fonoaudiológica. La enunciación de los contenidos de intervención desde su naturaleza conceptual impide una medición concreta asociada a la tarea terapéutica propuesta debido a su pobre operacionalización. Se concluye que no existe una estructura común en la formulación de objetivos terapéuticos para la intervención vocal.

This review aims to identify and describe the structure of the therapeutic objectives included in research reporting vocal therapy procedures during the last five years. The strategic search was carried out on three databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect and WebOf Science and 3,974 records were obtained. After the analysis, 12 articles met the inclusion criteria. The general trend in the literature of the area is the omission of the objectives and the exclusive reference to the therapeutic procedures used. The qualitative analysis shows an absence of a standard textual structure and a lack of differentiation between levels of objective hierarchy, which causes a high degree of heterogeneity in their writing. The role of client is rather secondary and passive. The setting of achievement criteria and the contents operationalization to be addressed in the voice therapy session are insufficientlyattended. The enunciation of the therapy contents from their conceptual nature hinders a concrete measurement to the therapeutical task proposed, due to its lack of operationalization. It is concluded that there is no common structure in the vocal therapy objectives formulation.

Auditory-vocal integration impairment: New challenges and opportunities for voice assessment and therapy / Alteración de la integración auditivo-vocal: nuevos retos y oportunidades para la evaluación y la terapia de la voz

This reflection paper addresses the importance of the interaction between voice perception and voice production, emphasizing the processes of auditory-vocal in-tegration that are not yet widely reported in the context of voice clinicians. Given the above, this article seeks to 1) highlight the important link between voice pro-duction and voice perception and 2) consider whether this relationship might be exploited clinically for diagnostic purposes and therapeutic benefit. Existing theories on speech production and its interaction with auditory perception provide context for discussing why the evaluation of auditory-vocal processes could help identify associ-ated origins of dysphonia and inform the clinician around appropriate management strategies. Incorporating auditory-vocal integration assessment through sensorimotor adaptation paradigm testing could prove to be an important addition to voice assess-ment protocols at the clinical level. Further, if future studies can specify the means to manipulate and enhance a person's auditory-vocal integration, the efficiency of voice therapy could be increased, leading to improved quality of life for people with voice disorders

Este artículo de reflexión aborda la importancia de la interacción entre la percepción y la producción de la voz, haciendo hincapié en los procesos de integración auditivo-vocal, los cuales aún no han sido muy divulgados en el contexto de los clínicos de voz. Dado lo anterior, este articulo busca: 1) destacar la importante relación entre la producción y la percepción de la voz y 2) considerar si esta relación pudiese explotarse clínicamente con fines diagnósticos y terapéuticos. Las teorías existentes sobre la producción de la voz y su interacción con la percepción auditiva proporcionan el contexto para discutir por qué la evaluación de los procesos auditivo-vocales podría ayudar a identificar los orígenes asociados a cierto tipo de disfonías e informar al clínico sobre las estrategias de abordaje adecuadas. La incorporación de la evaluación de la integración auditivo-vocal a través de la prueba del paradigma de adaptación sensoriomotora podría ser una importante adición a los protocolos de evaluación de la voz a nivel clínico. Además, si los estudios futuros pueden especificar los medios para manipular y mejorar la integración auditivo-vocal de una persona, la eficacia de la terapia de la voz podría aumentar, lo que llevaría a mejorar la calidad de vida de las personas con trastornos de la voz

Rehabilitación vocal fisiológica con ejercicios de tracto vocal semiocluido / Physiologic voice rehabilitation with semi-occluded vocal tract exercises

Introducción. Los ejercicios de tracto vocal semiocluido (ETVSO) son herramien-tas utilizadas en la rehabilitación fisiológica de la voz. Los ETVSO son ejercicios vocales producidos por la semioclusión del tracto vocal, a través de una serie de posturas que buscan alargar y/o ocluir el tracto vocal, generando un cambio en el patrón vibratorio de los pliegues vocales, grado de aducción y el patrón respiratorio. Los ETVSO pueden dividirse, según el tipo de semioclusión, en sostenida, transitoria y oscilatoria, así como en ejercicios de mayor resistencia a menor resistencia.Objetivo. Describir los diferentes tipos de ejercicios de tracto vocal semiocluido, el tipo de semioclusión, el grado de resistencia y sus efectos en los pliegues vocales, patrón respiratorio y configuración del tracto vocal. Metodología. Se realizó una revisión de la literatura en las bases de datos PubMed, Medline y Science Direct, usando los siguientes términos: "Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract Postures", "tract vocal semiocclude" y "ejercicios de tracto vocal semiocluido". Se utilizaron operadores booleanos "AND" y "OR" para especificar la búsqueda.Resultados. Los beneficios de estos ejercicios impactan positivamente en variables aerodinámicas, en la función glótica y en la configuración del tracto vocal. Conclusiones. Los ejercicios de tracto vocal semiocluido son una familia de ejerci-cios vocales producidos por semioclusión sostenida, transitoria y oscilatoria del tracto vocal, a través de una serie de posturas que buscan alargar y/o ocluir el tracto vocal, cuyos beneficios impactan positivamente los pliegues vocales y el tracto vocal

Introduction. Semi-occluded vocal tract exercises (SOVTE) are tools used in physiologic voice rehabilitation. Semi-occluded vocal tract exercises are vocal exer-cises produced by the semi-occlusion of the vocal tract through a series of postures that seek to lengthen and/or occlude the vocal tract, generating a change in the vibratory pattern of vocal folds, degree of vocal folds adduction, and the respira-tory pattern. SOVTE can be divided, according to the type of semi-occlusion, into sustained, transient and oscillatory, as well as exercises with high and low degree of airflow resistance.Objective. To describe the different types of semi-occluded vocal tract exercises, the type of semi-occlusion, the type of resistance, and their effects on the vocal folds, respiratory pattern, and configuration of the vocal tract.Methodology. A literature review was performed in the PubMed, Medline, and Science Direct databases, using the following terms: "Semi-occluded vocal tract pos-tures", "Semi-occluded vocal tract" and "Semi-occluded vocal tract exercises". Boo-lean operators "AND" and "OR" were used to specify the search.Results. The benefits of these exercises positively impact aerodynamic variables, glottal function, and configuration of the vocal tract.Conclusions. The semi-occluded vocal tract exercises are a family of vocal exerci-ses produced by the sustained, transitory, and oscillatory semi-occlusion of the vocal tract, through a series of postures that seek to lengthen and/or occlude the vocal tract, whose benefits positively impact on vocal folds and vocal tract.

Orientaciones filosóficas en la intervención fonoaudiológica de voz. El desafío actual de dar el alta / Philosophical orientations in voice therapy. The current challenge of discharge

El presente artículo corresponde a una reflexión sobre las orientaciones filosóficas en la terapia vocal actual. Cuando existe alguna alteración o trastorno vocal, se habla comunmente de un desequilibrio entre los subsistemas involucrados en el proceso fonatorio, es decir, fuelle (sistema respiratorio), fuente (pliegues vocales) y filtro (tracto vocal). Si no hay un correcto balance, entonces el sistema no tiene un correcto funcionamiento y pueden aparecer síntomas como ronquera, sensación de cuerpo extraño, prurito, fatiga vocal o bien disfonía o incluso afonía. Como con-secuencia de estas dificultades, se generan compensaciones que durante el proceso de la intervención fonoaudiológica el profesional debe volver a "equilibrar". Para lograr este objetivo, se desarrollan y analizan las diversas herramientas que entregan las filosofías de pensamiento a lo largo de la historia de la rehabilitación vocal, don-de se encuentran la orientación higiénica, psicológica, sintomatológica, fisiológica y ecléctica. En este mismo sentido, el profesional debe buscar lo que percibe como más idóneo para cada paciente o grupo a intervenir, centrado en mejorar la calidad vocal y las necesidades actuales de estos, basándose en el contexto mundial actual, con el objetivo de lograr un buen proceso de entrenamiento o rehabilitación y final-mente lograr el alta.

The present article corresponds to a reflection about the philosophical orientations in the current vocal therapy. When there are some vocal alterations or disorders, we usually talk about an imbalance between the sub-sysmtems involved in the fonatory process, which are bellows (respiratory system), source (vocal folds) and filter (vocal tract). When there is not a correct balance, the system does not work properly and as a consequence, it is possible to experiment symptoms such as hoarseness, foreign body sensation, pruritus, vocal fatigue, dysphonia or even aphonia. As a result of these difficulties, it is possible to generate compensations through the intervention of speech therapy. By virtue of this therapy the professional must 'balance'. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to develop and analyze the different tools that philoso-phical studies offer through the history of vocal rehabilitation. Some of these tools are hygienic orientation, psychological, symptomatological, physiological and eclec-tic. Thinking on that, the professional must search what it is most suitable for every patient or group of people that he/she will be working with. This must be focus on improving vocal quality and the actual necessities of the patient, based on the current global context. The final purpose of the professional is to achieve a good and healthy process of training and/or rehabilitation to accomplish medical discharge.

Objetivos de intervención en voz: Una propuesta para su análisis y redacción / Voice therapy goals: a proposal for analysis and writing

Este artículo de reflexión aborda aspectos que dan cuenta de la complejidad en el planteamiento de objetivos en torno a los marcos de abordaje vocal contemporáneos. Se plantea la complejidad de la selección y redacción de objetivos para la interven-ción en voz holística y ecléctica, y desde ella, la necesidad de incorporar el modelo CIF y las recomendaciones de la ASHA para el desarrollo de objetivos centrados en la persona, tanto a corto como a largo plazo. Se propone la utilización del método de análisis SMART y su aplicación específica para objetivos de intervención de la voz. Además, se abordan los aspectos formales que se deben considerar para una redacción precisa. Finalmente, se ejemplifica la propuesta mediante un caso clínico. Esta propuesta pretende ser de utilidad para fines terapéuticos y/o para el ámbito académico, tanto en la discusión de la formulación y diseño de planes terapéuticos como en el pensamiento reflexivo asociado al abordaje vocal.

This reflective article addresses aspects that deal with the complexity of objective setting in contemporary vocal approach frameworks. It addresses the complexity in selecting and writing objectives for holistic and eclectic voice therapy and the need to incorporate the ICF model and ASHA recommendations for the development of person-centered goals in both the short and long term. The use of the SMART analysis method is proposed and its specific application for voice therapy goal. Also, the formal aspects to be considered for precise wording are addressed. Finally, the proposal is exemplified through a clinical case. This proposal is intended to be useful for therapeutic and/or academic purposes, both in discussing the formula-tion and design of therapeutic plans and the reflective thinking associated with the vocal approach.

A Study on the Outcome of Treatment among Patients with Hoarseness in a Tertiary Care Centre

Hoarseness is defined as the perceived rough, harsh or breathy quality of voice. Since both benign and malignant lesions can produce hoarseness, timely evaluation is very important because delay in the diagnosis of malignancy can adversely affect the outcome. We wanted to study the treatment and its outcome in patients with hoarseness of various aetiologies, and compare the response to treatment between various groups.METHODSThis was a longitudinal study conducted in the Department of ENT in a tertiary care centre in south India. In patients with hoarseness, history was elicited, clinical examination was done, and perceptual evaluation of voice was made using GRBAS (Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenia, Strain) scale. Direct laryngoscopy and biopsy were done whenever suspicious lesions were seen. Early laryngeal cancer was treated with radiotherapy, while advanced cases were treated with chemoradiation. Other cases were treated with medications, Video Laryngeal Surgery (VLS) or voice therapy, according to the diagnosis. Patients were kept under follow up; reassessment was done after six months regarding improvement/ persistence/ deterioration of previous symptoms. Laryngoscopy and perceptual evaluation of voice were repeated, and the data collected was analysed.RESULTSOn treatment, the lesion subsided completely, and hoarseness got relieved in all the cases of laryngitis, trauma, vocal nodule, vocal polyp and cyst, while the lesion subsided partially, and hoarseness improved in vocal cord palsy, papilloma and carcinoma of glottis. The response to treatment was better in benign lesions when compared to malignant lesions (P value < 0.0001) and better in glottic malignancies when compared to malignancies at other nearby sites (P value <0.001).CONCLUSIONSMost of the benign conditions that caused hoarseness subsided and voice became normal with medications, video laryngeal surgery and voice therapy, while hoarseness persisted to some extent after treatment with radiotherapy or chemoradiation in most of the patients with malignancy.

Efectos del entrenamiento respiratorio aislado en las variables respiratorias y vocales / Effects of isolated respiratory training on breathing and voice variables

La implementación del entrenamiento respiratorio aislado en la rehabilitación y el entrenamiento de la voz es una práctica común en los países de habla hispana. Ac-tualmente, no existe ningún manuscrito en español que revise la información teórica y empírica del entrenamiento respiratorio en este contexto. El propósito de la presente revisión es entregar la evidencia actualizada del efecto del entrenamiento respiratorio aislado en la voz. El entrenamiento de la fuerza respiratoria ha demostrado tener consecuencias positivas en los parámetros medidos; no obstante, los datos disponibles hasta ahora no reporta efectos significativos en la voz, exceptuando los casos de personas con trastornos neurológicos de base y presbifonía. Si el entrenamiento respiratorio con el uso de dispositivos no ha demostrado impactar favorablemente sobre otras disfonías (no neurológicas ni presbifonía) ni en sujetos sanos profesionales de la voz, no existiría razón para esperar que los ejercicios respiratorios aislados que se suelen incluir en las rutinas de entrenadores vocales, fonoaudiólogos, logopedas y foniatras tengan un efecto positivo. Considerando que el entrenamiento de la fuerza muscular respiratoria parece actuar sobre algunos parámetros vocales en personas con alteraciones neurológicas y presbifonía, futuras investigaciones deberían considerar la exploración del posible efecto positivo en otros parámetros vocales no medidos aún en este tipo de población

Isolated breathing training in rehabilitation and voice training is a common prac-tice in Spanish-speaking countries. Currently, there are no documents in Spanish that study the theoretical and empirical information related to respiratory training in this context. The purpose of the present review is to provide updated information regarding the current evidence of the possible effect of isolated respiratory training on voice. Respiratory strength training has been shown to have positive effects on respiratory parameters, however, the available evidence does not report significant effects on the voice, except for people with underlying neurological disorders and presbyphonia. If respiratory training using devices designed for these purposes has not been shown to positively impact vocal characteristics of subjects with dyspho-nia (not neurological or presbyphonia) or of healthy professional voice users, there is no reason to expect that the isolated breathing exercises that are often included in the routines of vocal trainers and speech therapists will have a positive effect on voice variables. Considering that respiratory muscle strength training seems to positively affect some vocal parameters in people with neurological disorders and presbyphonia, future research should consider exploring the possible effect on other vocal parameters not yet measured in this type of population

Telepráctica de la Terapia Vocal: una ref lexión sobre su aplicación a partir del COVID-19 / Telepractice of voice therapy: a ref lection on its application from the beginning of COVID-19

El manejo de la pandemia por COVID-19 ha generado grandes cambios sociales y mundiales. Uno de ellos, debido al distanciamiento social, ha sido la incorporación de la telepráctica de la terapia vocal en países que tenían poco o nulo conocimiento de ella. Este artículo tiene el propósito de reflexionar sobre la aplicación de la teleprác-tica de la terapia vocal, considerando los beneficios, barreras y oportunidades que surgen de ella. Además, se plantea que la aplicación de la telepráctica requiere de una política, de un marco legislativo y de aspectos éticos para asegurar una terapia vocal exitosa. ¿Es efectiva la telepráctica? ¿es posible aplicarla? ¿qué requiere su aplicación?

The management of the COVID-19 pandemic has generated huge changes socially and worldwide. One of these, due to social distancing, has been the incorporation of telepractice to voice therapy in countries where the knowledge of it was very little or there was none. The purpose of this article is to reflect about the usage of tele-practice in voice therapy by considering the benefits, barriers and opportunities that emerge from it. The paper also poses that the application of telepractice requires po-licies, a legislative framework and ethical aspects to ensure a successful voice therapy. Is the telepractice effective? Can it be implemented? What does its appliance require?

Intervención fonoaudiológica en artistas: hacia una mirada completa de intervención vocal / Voice Therapy Intervention on artists: towards a complete look at vocal intervention

Hoy en día el conocimiento avanza a pasos agigantados. Cada vez hay más fonoau-diólogos en diversas áreas de la profesión. Llama la atención de muchos el área ar-tística, pues es un área poco explorada y amplia. Este artículo tiene el objetivo de reflexionar sobre la intervención vocal en artistas (cantantes, actores y otros). Su im-plementación debe comprender una mirada completa de la persona: voz, fisiología, fisiopatología, emociones, rol, aspectos médicos, farmacológicos y características in-dividuales. Esto promueve la adherencia de un profesional de la voz a su área de conocimiento y genera un espacio de sanidad, exploración y libertad artística en términos actuales, incluso en medio de una pandemia

Nowadays the knowledge is advancing by leaps and bounds. The number of Speech Pathologists in different areas of the profession has increased. The artistic area calls the attention of many, because it is a hardly explored and wide area. This article aims to reflect on vocal intervention on artists (singers, actors and others). Its imple-mentation should include a thorough overview of the person: voice, physiology, phy-siopathology, emotions, role, medical and pharmacological aspects and individual characteristics. This promotes the adhesion of a voice professional to their area of its own knowledge, thus allowing a space for healing, exploration and artistic freedom in current terms, even in the midst of a pandemic

The Effect of Voice Therapy Applying Self-Regulation Concepts on Dysphonia Patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study is to present a strategy for improving the self-regulation (SR) ability and facilitating the change of vocal behavior by applying voice therapy using the SR concept to the patients with vocal cord nodule and muscle tension dysphonia. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The subjects were 80 patients and 80 patients who were diagnosed with muscle tension dysphonia and vocal nodules. As a control group, the results were compared among patients with the same dysphonia without using SR strategies. The concept of SR before voice therapy was explained to the patients, and the treatment was divided into three stages according to the goal of voice therapy. The treatment stages consist of 1) skill acquisition, 2) habit formation, and 3) habit changes. voice therapy was performed by applying SR strategies such as goal implementation intentions and a less routine behavior. Patient's dropout rates were measured to compare the adherence of voice therapy. RESULTS: Significant improvement was seen in all groups receiving voice therapy. However, in the group using the SR strategy, the voice analysis results showed a relatively low dropout rate of voice therapy. In the generalization confirmation stage, patients who applied SR concept showed better results. SR strategy did no longer be necessary to maintain newly adopted vocal behavior. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that SR is one of the cognitive factors that can have a significant impact on the outcome of voice therapy, and also has a positive impact on the acquisition and generalization of new skills. A better understanding of SR and the development of therapeutic strategies using it will play an important role in solving voice problems in clinical settings.

Effects of Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract Exercise in Patients with Functional Aphonia

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Functional aphonia is characterized by incomplete closure of the vocal folds. Semi-occluded vocal tract exercise (SOVTE) allows smoothly vocal folds collision without damage to the vocal folds tissues to produce normal vocal intensity. The purpose of this study is to report the effect of SOVTE in patients with functional aphonia. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Seven patients diagnosed with functional aphonia were treated with 1-3 voice therapy sessions using voiced lip-trill, humming, Lax Vox in SOVTE. To assess the effectiveness of semi-occluded vocal tract exercise, cepstral analysis and auditory perceptual assessment were performed before and after voice therapy. RESULTS: F0 (fundamental frequency), CPP (cepstral peak prominence) and L/H ratio (low/high spectral ratio) were significantly increased, while CPP Standard deviation, L/H ratio Standard deviation were decreased. In addition, ‘Grade’, ‘Breathiness’ and ‘Asthenia’ were significantly decreased in the GRBAS scale after SOVTE (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, SOVTE seemed to be effective to elicit voice quickly and promote vocal folds vibration without muscular effort in patients with functional aphonia.

The value of acoustic parameters in the voice therapy for patients with unilateral vocal cord paralysis / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective@#To investigate the value of acoustic parameters in the voice therapy for patients with unilateral vocal cord paralysis (UVCP).@*Methods@#From May 2015 to April 2018, 51 patients with UVCP and 59 healthy controls in Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Tianjin First Central Hospital, were involved in this research retrospectively. The UVCP patients were diagnosed with stroboscopic laryngoscopy. The minimum glottal area (MGA) was calculated by KIPS software when the people were pronouncing/i:/. The fundamental frequency (F0), Jitter, Shimmer and NHR were detected by CSL4500 multiple acoustic voice analyzer.@*Results@#MGA of UVCP patients was much higher than that of healthy control (male: 433.68±64.52 vs. 294.41±51.82, t=9.23, P=0.000; female: 498.80±73.42 vs. 302.03±76.54, t=13.21, P=0.000), which meaned vocal cord insufficiency.After voice therapy, MGA reduced significantly (male: 288.48±55.09, female: 258.22±57.17, t=24.41 and 31.22, P=0.000 vs. pre-therapy). MGA of untreated patients decreased in varying degrees. Compared with the voice therapy group, the MGA decreased in a significantly lower extent (24.25±22.91 vs. 188.31±54.37, t=8.97, P=0.000). The F0, Jitter, Shimmer and NHR raised significantly in UVCP patients group (P=0.000 vs. healthy control group), and they were reduced by voice therapy (all P<0.05). Each of the four acoustic parameters was relative with MGA, r=0.551, 0.867, 0.853 and 0.875 in turn, P=0.001, 0.000, 0.000, and 0.000.@*Conclusion@#MGA and acoustic parameters can reflect the acoustic features of UVCP patients, which are useful tools in the UVCP assessment and voice therapy.

Multidimensional effects of voice therapy in patients affected by unilateral vocal fold paralysis due to cancer / Efeitos multidimensionais da terapia vocal em pacientes com paralisia unilateral daprega vocal por câncer

Abstract Introduction: Patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis may demonstrate different degrees of voice perturbation depending on the position of the paralyzed vocal fold. Understanding the effectiveness of voice therapy in this population may be an important coefficient to define the therapeutic approach. Objective: To evaluate the voice therapy effectiveness in the short, medium and long-term in patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis and determine the risk factors for voice rehabilitation failure. Methods: Prospective study with 61 patients affected by unilateral vocal fold paralysis enrolled. Each subject had voice therapy with an experienced speech pathologist twice a week. A multidimensional assessment protocol was used pre-treatment and in three different times after voice treatment initiation: short-term (1-3 months), medium-term (4-6 months) and long-term (12 months); it included videoendoscopy, maximum phonation time, GRBASI scale, acoustic voice analysis and the portuguese version of the voice handicap index. Results: Multiple comparisons for GRBASI scale and VHI revealed statistically significant differences, except between medium and long term (p < 0.005). The data suggest that there is vocal improvement over time with stabilization results after 6 months (medium term). From the 28 patients with permanent unilateral vocal fold paralysis, 18 (69.2%) reached complete glottal closure following vocal therapy (p = 0.001). The logistic regression method indicated that the Jitter entered the final model as a risk factor for partial improvement. For every unit of increased Jitter, there was an increase of 0.1% (1.001) of the chance for partial improvement, which means an increase on no full improvement chance during rehabilitation. Conclusion: Vocal rehabilitation improves perceptual and acoustic voice parameters and voice handicap index, besides favor glottal closure in patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis. The results were also permanent during the period of 1 year. The Jitter value, when elevated, is a risk factor for the voice therapy success.

Resumo Introdução: Pacientes com paralisia unilateral de prega vocal podem apresentar diferentes graus de distúrbios da voz, dependendo da posição da prega vocal paralisada. A compreensão da eficácia da terapia vocal nesta população pode ser um coeficiente importante para definir a abordagem terapêutica. Objetivo: Avaliar a eficácia da terapia vocal em curto, médio e longo prazos em pacientes com paralisia unilateral de prega vocal e determinar os fatores de risco para falha na reabilitação da voz. Método: Estudo prospectivo, no qual 61 pacientes com paralisia unilateral de prega vocal foram recrutados. Cada participante foi submetido a terapia vocal com um fonoaudiólogo experiente duas vezes por semana. Um protocolo de avaliação multidimensional foi utilizado no pré-tratamento e em três momentos após o início da terapia da voz: curto prazo (1-3 meses), médio prazo (4-6 meses) e longo prazo (12 meses); incluiu videoendoscopia, tempo máximo de fonação, escala GRBASI, análise de voz acústica e a versão em português do Voice Handicap Index. Resultados: Os dados comparativos temporais das avaliações revelaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas, exceto entre médio e longo prazo (p < 0,005). Os dados sugerem que há melhora vocal ao longo do tempo com resultados de estabilização após seis meses (médio prazo). Dos 28 pacientes com paralisia unilateral permanente da prega vocal, 18 (69,2%) atingiram o fechamento glótico completo após a terapia vocal (p = 0,001). O método de regressão logística indicou que o Jitter entrou no modelo final como um fator de risco para melhora parcial. Para cada unidade de aumento de Jitter, houve um aumento de 0,1% (1,001) da chance de melhora parcial, o que significa um aumento na chance de não ocorrer melhora completa durante a reabilitação. Conclusão: A reabilitação vocal melhora os parâmetros de voz perceptiva e acústica e o índice de incapacidade vocal, além de favorecer o fechamento glótico em pacientes com paralisia unilateral da prega vocal. Além disso, os resultados também foram permanentes durante o período de um ano. O valor de Jitter, quando elevado, é um fator de risco para sucesso parcial da terapia vocal.

Utility of preoperative voice therapy on the voice recovery of vocal cord polyps patients undergoing the microsurgery / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To evaluate the therapeutic effect on the voice recovery of patients with vocal cord polyps undergoing the microsurgery of preoperative voice therapy.@*METHODS@#Twenty-six patients diagnosed with unilateral vocal cord polyp under stroboscope, who needed to undergo vocal cord loss resection under supportive laryngoscope, were randomly divided into control group (non-voice training) and treatment group (voice training), with each group of 13 patients. Patients in control group were just treated with surgical operation. Apart from surgical treatment, patients in treatment group received 6 hours intensive vocal therapy one week before the surgery. The therapy courses consist of the propaganda and education of voice care, postoperative vocal instruction and the patients' self-training under the guidance of voice therapists. The acoustic parameters (irregularity, breathiness, grade, jitter and shimmer) of the same patient were collected 24 to 48 hours before the surgery and 14 days after the surgery with Ling WAVES. The results were analyzed with SPSS 19.0.@*RESULTS@#The differences of all the five preoperative voice parameters between control group and treatment group are not significant; but postoperative breathiness and jitter in treatment group were significantly lower than that in control group, while the differences of irregularity, overall severity and shimmer were not significant between control group and treatment group. In control group, breathiness and jitter were significantly improved after surgery, while the differences of irregularity, breathiness and shimmer were not significant between preoperation and postoperation. In treatment group, all the five voice parameters were significantly improved after surgery. According to the laryngostroboscopic examination, the vocal fold polyps were excised completely in both groups.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Preoperative voice therapy contributes to the recovery of voice quality of the patients with vocal cord polyps. Combined intervention of surgery and voice therapy is an effective method to treat the patients with vocal cord polyps.

The Usefulness of Postoperative Direct Voice Therapy in Vocal Polyps / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have suggested the usefulness and importance of postoperative voice therapy, for which there are indirect and direct methods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of treatment according to different voice therapy methods. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Patients with vocal polyp were divided into three groups. Group 1 received direct voice therapy after phonomicrosurgery and Group 2 indirect voice therapy after phonomicrosurgery. Group 3 did not receive any voice therapy. RESULTS: Perceptual, acoustic, aerodynamic voice outcome parameters differed significantly between pre and post-operative treatments. In almost all of the voice analysis, Group 1, who underwent direct voice therapy, improved more significantly compared with Group 2 and 3. CONCLUSION: Postoperative voice therapy following phonomicrosurgery may be an effective adjuvant treatment in patients with vocal polyps. In particular, direct voice therapy can be effective for improving postoperative voice outcome.

The Study of Combined Voice Therapy with Intralaryngeal Injection

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Though voice therapy is proven to be effective in academia, treatment results and satisfaction level are inconsistent in clinics. The inconsistency may rise from diverse vocal cords misuse patterns in patient population as they suffer from different diseases or have bad phonation habits. In order to overcome the limitation, we uniformized patients' vocal cords with injection laryngoplasty prior to voice therapy. The efficacy of voice therapy and consistency in treatment results after injection laryngoplasty were assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed with vocal nodules were either treated with injection laryngoplasty followed by voice therapy (combined treatment group) or voice therapy only (voice therapy group). Each group consisted of 15 patients. Acoustic measures (jitter, shimmer, NHR), aerodynamic measures (MPT, Psub, MAFR), and subjective auditory conscious measures (K-VHI, K-VRQOL) between two groups were analyzed. RESULTS: After treatments, both groups improved in terms of acoustic, aerodynamic, and subjective auditory conscious measures compared to pre-treatment. Combined treatment group had statistically significantly greater improvement in shimmer, P in K-VHI, and PF in K-VRQOL compared to voice therapy group. CONCLUSION: Injection laryngoplasty treatment prior to voice therapy synergizes in treating patients compared to voice therapy only.