[Effects of voice therapy on vocal acoustic characteristics in patients with vocal cord nodules]

ABSTRACT

Vocal cord nodule is one of the voice disorders causes hoarseness and breathy voice. Voice therapy is one of the treatment approaches. We aimed to find out the effects of voice therapy on vocal acoustic characteristics in these patients. In this case series, five women with vocal nodule [14 to 45-year-old] participated in a 9- week voice therapy program developed by Boone. Vocal hygiene and voice practices were measured every day using a questionnaire. Moreover, structure and movements of vocal folds were examined using videolaryngostroboscope by a laryngologist before and after voice therapy to evaluate the effectiveness of program. For collecting voice samples we used sustained /‘/ in comfortable loudness for all patients and data were analyzed using Speech Studio. After voice therapy, fundamental frequency in four of five subjects were decreased but it was not significant [p=0.225]. However, jitter in all of five subjects was significantly decreased [p=0.043]. After voice therapy, shimmer in three of five subjects were decreased that was not significant [p=0.345]. Voice therapy can be used for the remedy of acoustic vocal characteristics and elimination or contraction of vocal cord nodule