An Evaluation of the Effects of Two Treatment Approaches for Teachers With Voice Disorders

Abstract

Teachers commonly report voice problems and often seek medical assistance for voice-related complaints. Despite the prevalence of voice disorders within this occupation, there are no studies evaluating the effectiveness of treatment programs designed to remedy the voice problems of teachers. To assess the functional effects of two voice therapy approaches, 58 voice-disordered teachers were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: vocal hygiene (VH, n = 20), vocal function exercises (VFE, n = 19), and a nontreatment control group (CON, n = 19). Subjects completed the Voice Handicap Index (VHI)-an instrument designed to appraise the self-perceived psychosocial consequences of voice disorders-before and following a 6-week treatment phase. The VFE and VH subjects also completed a posttreatment questionnaire regarding the perceived benefits of treatment. Only the group who adhered to the VFE regimen reported a significant reduction in mean VHI scores (p <.0002). Furthermore, when compared to the VH group, the exercise group reported more overall voice improvement (p < .05) and greater ease (p < .02) and clarity (p < .01) in their speaking and singing voice after treatment. These findings suggest that the VFE should be considered as a useful alternative or adjunct to vocal hygiene programs in the treatment of voice problems in teachers.

Intervenção fonoaudiológica em grupo a cantores populares: estudo prospectivo controlado

“…These results are similar to others obtained in studies with professionals using their voice (27,29,30) , especially for the prevention of vocal disorders, in an attempt to reduce vocal bad use and abuse and, consequently, to reduce the risk of developing laryngeal pathologies, arising from functional alterations.…”

“…The s/z ratio also did not show significant change at the time of vocal revaluation in IG. This aspect may lead to the assumption that a longer period of intervention time may be necessary so that modifications in the objective evaluations may be observed, according to evidence presented in previous studies related to the theme (27)(28)(29)(30) .…”

“…The evaluation on sensations related to the use of the voice in the first moment of the study helped them to recognize these perceptions and sensations in the second phase. Thus, it is possible to infer that exposing the singer to the list of symptoms and sensations associated to singing, negative or positive, is already capable of sensitizing him/ her to recognize the potential and limitations when using the voice for singing, according to descriptions in other studies (26,27) .…”

Voice in early glottic cancer compared to benign voice pathology

“…Another non-statistical approach to deWne a clinically relevant diVerence score to be used in group design studies is to line up published studies on the eYcacy of voice treatment and assess diVerence score appearing to be signiWcant or non-signiWcant. Four studies on the eYcacy of voice therapy in patients with several benign voice pathologies or voice pathologies following treatment for glottic malignancy, showed signiWcant improvement of the mean VHI with a range of 12 to 18 points [10,14,15,23]. On the contrary, Speyer [18] reported a non-signiWcant median improvement of 6 points after voice therapy in patients with a diversity of chronic benign voice disorders.…”

Dynamic Biomechanical Strain Inhibits IL-1β–induced Inflammation in Vocal Fold Fibroblasts

“…Traditionally, voice therapy for phonotrauma emphasizes voice conservation, 5,6 wherein patients are encouraged to minimize the quantity and/or loudness of phonation. [7][8][9] Biomechanically, this approach is sensible, because use of quiet-breathy phonation should minimize pathogenesis by limiting impact stress between the vocal folds. [10][11][12] However, there is little data to support this approach for the management of voice disorders.…”