Voice Therapy With a Semi-occluded Vocal Tract: From Current Challenges to Next Level Efficacy Studies
Overview
- Phase
- N/A
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Voice Disorders
- Sponsor
- University Ghent
- Enrollment
- 58
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- (Supra)Glottic Activity: Amplitude of Vibration
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- last year
Overview
Brief Summary
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The first objective of this research is to investigate the immediate effects of three semi-occluded vocal tract (SOVT) exercises (straw phonation in air, straw phonation in 2cm water, and straw phonation in 5cm water) on (supra)glottic activity of vocally healthy participants and patients with voice disorders (dysphonia) visualized with laryngovideostroboscopy.
Participants will receive a flexible laryngovideostroboscopy, both during normal phonation and during the specific SOVT exercise. These videos will be randomly and blindly evaluated by two experts using the Voice-Vibratory Assessment with Laryngeal Imaging (VALI) rating form (Poburka et al., 2017).
Researchers will compare the effects of these SOVT exercises on the (supra)glottic activity with the effects found in a control group producing /u/ phonation, using a randomized controlled trial.
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The second objective of this research is to investigate the short- and long-term effects of the three SOVT therapy approaches on the (supra)glottic activity, voice quality and self-report of patients with voice disorders (dysphonia).
Participants will receive a short-term intensive therapy with the specific SOVT exercise across four weeks.
Immediately after the therapy program and at 1 and 3 months follow-up, the voice of the participants will be re-evaluated.
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- Not provided
Exclusion Criteria
- Not provided
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
(Supra)Glottic Activity: Amplitude of Vibration
Time Frame: baseline (before the intervention)
Laryngeal function determined with the Voice-Vibratory Assessment with Laryngeal Imaging (VALI) rating form (Poburka et al., 2017). Amplitude of vibration: magnitude of lateral movement of the vocal folds. This is a visual-perceptual evaluation based on the video samples of the strobovideolaryngoscopy. Raters score the magnitude of lateral movement of the vocal folds based on the graphic of the VALI form ranging from 0 to 10, this number is then multiplied by 10 to obtain a percentage. Lower percentages mean a smaller amplitude of vibration, higher percentages mean a larger amplitude of vibration.
Supraglottic Activity: Anteroposterior Compression
Time Frame: baseline (before the intervention)
Laryngeal function determined with the VALI form (Poburka et al, 2017). Anteroposterior supraglottic compression: constriction of the supraglottic structures in the anteroposterior dimension. This is a visual-perceptual evaluation based on the video samples of the strobovideolaryngoscopy. Raters score the supraglottic compression based on the graphic of the VALI form on a scale ranging from 0 to 5 (with the aid of concentric circles). The higher the number, the more supraglottic compression. More supraglottic compression is often seen as a negative outcome, however it might be a beneficial effect seen in SOVT phonation studied here.
Secondary Outcomes
- Voice Quality Index 1: Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI)(baseline (before the intervention), 1 month (immediately after the intervention), 1 month follow-up, 3 months follow-up)
- Voice Quality Index 2: Acoustic Voice Quality Index (AVQI)(baseline (before the intervention), 1 month (immediately after the intervention), 1 month follow-up, 3 months follow-up)
- Self-report 1: Voice Handicap Index (VHI)(baseline (before the intervention), 1 month (immediately after the intervention), 1 month follow-up, 3 months follow-up)
- Self-report 2: Vocal Tract Discomfort Scale (VTDS)(baseline (before the intervention), 1 month (immediately after the intervention), 1 month follow-up, 3 months follow-up)
- Self-report 3: Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI)(baseline (before the intervention), 1 month (immediately after the intervention), 1 month follow-up, 3 months follow-up)