Narges Jafari1, Abolfazl Salehi2, Farzad Izadi3, Saeed Talebian Moghadam4, Abbas Ebadi5, Payman Dabirmoghadam6, Maryam Faham7, Mehdi Shahbazi8. 1. Department of Speech Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2. Department of Speech Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: vosalehi@gmail.com. 3. Department of Ear, Nose, Throat, Head and Neck Research Center, Hazrat-e-Rasoul Hospital, Tehran, Iran. 4. Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 5. Department of Nursing, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 6. Otolaryngology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran. 7. Department of Speech and Language Pathology, School of Rehabilitation Science, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 8. Department of Speech Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) is a functional dysphonia, which appears with an excessive tension in the intrinsic and extrinsic laryngeal musculatures. MTD can affect voice quality and quality of life. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of vocal function exercises (VFEs) on perceptual and self-assessment ratings in a group of 15 subjects with MTD. METHODS: The study comprised 15 subjects with MTD (8 men and 7 women, mean age 39.8 years, standard deviation 10.6, age range 24-62 years). All participants were native Persian speakers who underwent a 6-week course of VFEs. The Voice Handicap Index (VHI) (the self-assessment scale) and Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenia, Strain (GRBAS) scale (perceptual rating of voice quality) were used to compare pre- and post-VFEs. RESULTS: GRBAS data of patients before and after VFEs were compared using Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and VHI data of patients pre- and post-VFEs were compared using Student paired t test. These perceptual parameters showed a statistically significant improvement in subjects with MTD after voice therapy (significant at P < 0.05 (*) and P < 0.004 (**)). Also results indicated statistically noticeable reduction in the mean VHI scores across subjects with MTD (significant at P < 0.05 (*) and P < 0.004 (**)). CONCLUSIONS: Significant improvement after therapy for participants has been observed by the aid of auditory-perceptual ratings of voice quality (with the GRBAS scale) and the patient's self-assessment ratings measurements (with the VHI). As a result, the data provide evidence regarding the efficacy of VFEs in the treatment of patients with MTD.
OBJECTIVE:Muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) is a functional dysphonia, which appears with an excessive tension in the intrinsic and extrinsic laryngeal musculatures. MTD can affect voice quality and quality of life. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of vocal function exercises (VFEs) on perceptual and self-assessment ratings in a group of 15 subjects with MTD. METHODS: The study comprised 15 subjects with MTD (8 men and 7 women, mean age 39.8 years, standard deviation 10.6, age range 24-62 years). All participants were native Persian speakers who underwent a 6-week course of VFEs. The Voice Handicap Index (VHI) (the self-assessment scale) and Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenia, Strain (GRBAS) scale (perceptual rating of voice quality) were used to compare pre- and post-VFEs. RESULTS: GRBAS data of patients before and after VFEs were compared using Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and VHI data of patients pre- and post-VFEs were compared using Student paired t test. These perceptual parameters showed a statistically significant improvement in subjects with MTD after voice therapy (significant at P < 0.05 (*) and P < 0.004 (**)). Also results indicated statistically noticeable reduction in the mean VHI scores across subjects with MTD (significant at P < 0.05 (*) and P < 0.004 (**)). CONCLUSIONS: Significant improvement after therapy for participants has been observed by the aid of auditory-perceptual ratings of voice quality (with the GRBAS scale) and the patient's self-assessment ratings measurements (with the VHI). As a result, the data provide evidence regarding the efficacy of VFEs in the treatment of patients with MTD.
Authors: Maria Bane; Vrushali Angadi; Emily Dressler; Richard Andreatta; Joseph Stemple Journal: Int J Speech Lang Pathol Date: 2017-09-19 Impact factor: 2.484
Authors: Maria Bane; Megan Brown; Vrushali Angadi; Daniel J Croake; Richard D Andreatta; Joseph C Stemple Journal: Int J Speech Lang Pathol Date: 2018-04-03 Impact factor: 2.484