A study of the effectiveness of voice therapy in the treatment of 45 patients with nonorganic dysphonia

J Voice. 1999 Mar;13(1):72-104. doi: 10.1016/s0892-1997(99)80063-0.

Abstract

Forty-five patients diagnosed as having nonorganic dysphonia were assigned in rotation to 1 of 3 groups. Patients in group 1 received no treatment and acted as a control group. Patients in groups 2 and 3 received a program of indirect therapy and direct with indirect therapy, respectively. A range of qualitative and quantitative measures were carried out on all patients before and after treatment to evaluate change in voice quality over time. Results revealed a significant difference between the 3 treatment groups in the amount of change for the voice severity, electrolaryngograph, and shimmer measurements and on ratings provided by a patient questionnaire (P<0.05). However, other measures failed to show significant differences between the 3 groups. Most of the patients (86%) in group 1 showed no significant change on any of the measures. Some patients in treatment group 2 (46%) showed significant change in voice quality. Fourteen out of 15 patients (93%) in treatment group showed significant changes in voice quality.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Fiber Optic Technology
  • Humans
  • Laryngoscopy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Speech Acoustics
  • Speech Therapy / methods*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Voice Disorders / therapy*
  • Voice Quality
  • Voice Training*