Maia Braden1, Susan L Thibeault2. 1. UW Health Voice and Swallow Clinics, American Family Children's Hospital, 1675 Highland Avenue MC C225, Madison, WI, 53792, United States. Electronic address: braden@surgery.wisc.edu. 2. Department of Surgery, Voice and Swallow Clinics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Division of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, 5107 WIMR, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, United States. Electronic address: thibeault@surgery.wisc.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the effect of voice therapy on dysphonia on children with benign vocal fold lesions, as measured by perceptual evaluation using the Consensus Auditory Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) and acoustic and aerodynamic measures (jitter, shimmer, noise-to-harmonic ratio, phonation threshold pressure, mean airflow during voicing, subglottic pressure during comfortable phonation). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective disease-specific outcomes database. METHODS: Subjects identified in the database consisted of 28 children (14 male, 14 female) between the ages of three and eighteen. Pre- and post-therapy perceptual, acoustic and aerodynamic measures were compared using two-sided paired t-test. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in perceptual ratings of voice quality (p < .001) and in phonation threshold pressure before and after therapy (p = .034). While acoustic measures improved after therapy, changes were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Children with dysphonia secondary to benign vocal fold lesions showed positive change in perceptual ratings of voice quality and in phonation threshold pressure after voice therapy.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the effect of voice therapy on dysphonia on children with benign vocal fold lesions, as measured by perceptual evaluation using the Consensus Auditory Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) and acoustic and aerodynamic measures (jitter, shimmer, noise-to-harmonic ratio, phonation threshold pressure, mean airflow during voicing, subglottic pressure during comfortable phonation). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective disease-specific outcomes database. METHODS: Subjects identified in the database consisted of 28 children (14 male, 14 female) between the ages of three and eighteen. Pre- and post-therapy perceptual, acoustic and aerodynamic measures were compared using two-sided paired t-test. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in perceptual ratings of voice quality (p < .001) and in phonation threshold pressure before and after therapy (p = .034). While acoustic measures improved after therapy, changes were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS:Children with dysphonia secondary to benign vocal fold lesions showed positive change in perceptual ratings of voice quality and in phonation threshold pressure after voice therapy.