Effect of Voice Therapy Using Semioccluded Vocal Tract Exercises in Singers and Nonsingers With Dysphonia. 2020

Mami Kaneko, and Yoichiro Sugiyama, and Shigeyuki Mukudai, and Shigeru Hirano
Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. Electronic address: mkaneko@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp.

OBJECTIVE Voice therapy with semioccluded vocal tract exercises (SOVTE) has a long history of use in singers and nonsingers with dysphonia. SOVTE with increased vocal tract impedance leads to increased vocal efficiency and economy. Although there is a growing body of research on the physiological impact of SOVTE, and growing clinical sentiment about its therapeutic benefits, empirical data describing its potential efficacy in singers and nonsingers are lacking. The objective of the current study is to evaluate vocal tract function and voice quality in singers and nonsingers with dysphonia after undergoing SOVTE. METHODS Patients who were diagnosed with functional dysphonia, vocal fold nodules and age-related atrophy were assessed (n = 8 singers, n = 8 nonsingers). Stroboscopic examination, aerodynamic assessment, acoustic analysis, formant frequency, and self-assessments were evaluated before and after performing SOVTE. RESULTS In the singer group, expiratory lung pressure, jitter, shimmer, and self-assessment significantly improved after SOVTE. In addition, formant frequency (first, second, third, and fourth), and the standard deviation (SD) of the first, second, and third formant frequency significantly improved. In the nonsinger group, expiratory lung pressure, jitter, shimmer, and Voice Handicap Index-10 significantly improved after SOVTE. However, no significant changes were observed in formant frequency. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that SOVTE may improve voice quality in singers and nonsingers with dysphonia, and SOVTE may be more effective at adjusting the vocal tract function in singers with dysphonia compared to nonsingers.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014831 Voice The sounds produced by humans by the passage of air through the LARYNX and over the VOCAL CORDS, and then modified by the resonance organs, the NASOPHARYNX, and the MOUTH. Voices
D014833 Voice Quality That component of SPEECH which gives the primary distinction to a given speaker's VOICE when pitch and loudness are excluded. It involves both phonatory and resonatory characteristics. Some of the descriptions of voice quality are harshness, breathiness and nasality. Qualities, Voice,Quality, Voice,Voice Qualities
D014834 Voice Training A variety of techniques used to help individuals utilize their voice for various purposes and with minimal use of muscle energy. Training, Voice,Trainings, Voice,Voice Trainings
D055154 Dysphonia Difficulty and/or pain in PHONATION or speaking. Phonation Disorders,Spastic Dysphonia,Hyperkinetic Dysphonia,Neurologic Adducter Spastic Dysphonia,Organic Tremor Dysphonia,Spastic Dysphonia, Neurologic Adducter,Dysphonia, Hyperkinetic,Dysphonia, Organic Tremor,Dysphonia, Spastic,Phonation Disorder
D063346 Singing Modulation of human voice to produce sounds augmented by musical tonality and rhythm. Chant,Singer,Vocalization, Rhythmic,Whistling,Chants,Rhythmic Vocalization,Rhythmic Vocalizations,Singers,Vocalizations, Rhythmic,Whistlings

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