Long-term effects of an intensive voice treatment for vocal fold nodules

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the current study was to examine the long-term effects of intensive voice treatment for vocal fold nodules, compared to outcomes for patients treated with traditional voice therapy. It was hypothesised that intensive treatment would provide comparable maintenance of vocal function, voice quality, and patients’ perception of quality-of-life when compared with traditional treatment at 6 month follow-up.

Method: Thirty-six women diagnosed with bilateral vocal fold nodules who were treated with either traditional (n = 20; once a week for 8 weeks) or intensive (n = 16; eight sessions within 3 weeks) therapy. Each participant completed voice, stroboscopic, and acoustic assessments and the Voice Handicap Index before, immediately post and 6 months post-treatment.

Result: Results revealed most improved perceptual, stroboscopic and acoustic parameters were maintained in both groups at 6 months post-treatment, with no significant differences between the two groups. In addition, both groups maintained satisfaction on their perception of vocal function, with no significant difference between the two groups.

Conclusion: The investigation provided further evidence that individuals with vocal fold nodules are able to maintain improved voice quality and vocal health following intensive voice treatment to a similar degree to traditional voice treatment.

Keywords:

• Acoustic
• auditory perception
• quality-of-life
• stroboscopy
• treatment intensity
• vocal fold nodules

Acknowledgements

We wish to acknowledge and thank all the study participants. We are extremely grateful to Ms Li-Mei Wang for her assistance in numerous aspects of the study and Dr Ying-Liang Chou for his assistance in the physiological study. We are also grateful to Professor Pen-Yuan Chu, Dr Tsung-Lun Lee, Dr Shyh-Kuan Tai and Dr Yen-Bin Hsu at Taipei Veterans General Hospital for their full support of this study.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Supplementary materials available on line