Preliminary study of Novafon local vibration voice therapy for dysphonia treatment

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to explore the effectiveness of a five-week Novafon local vibration voice therapy (NLVVT) program for dysphonia treatment.

Methods: Eleven dysphonic subjects participated in this specific program.

Results: Treatment effects were assessed during (i.e. weekly) and after NLVVT. Large and significant treatment effects were revealed in acoustics (i.e. spectrography), and multiparametric indices (i.e. Acoustic Voice Quality Index (AVQI), and Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI)) during and after NLVVT (all p values < .01). Additionally, self-evaluation (i.e. Voice Handicap Index (VHI)) showed a significant improvement after NLVVT (p < .01). Gender independent voice range profile parameters (i.e. acoustics) only showed significant effects after treatment (p ≤ .01), but not during the treatment. Finally, aerodynamic measurement (i.e. phonation quotient) showed low treatment effects after NLVVT, which were not significant (p > .05).

Conclusions: The preliminary results showed that NLVVT might be successful in voice treatment. Large treatment effects might be expected in AVQI, DSI, spectrography and VHI after using NLVVT. Other voice characteristics showed smaller treatment effects (i.e. voice range profile parameters) or no meaningful treatment effects (i.e. phonation quotient).

Keywords:

• Dysphonia
• local vibration therapy
• Novafon
• treatment effect
• voice assessment
• voice therapy

Disclosure statement

This manuscript has no actual or potential conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Novafon GmbH.