Voice Therapy With a Semi-occluded Vocal Tract: From Current Challenges to Next Level Efficacy Studies

Detailed Summary

1. 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. 2. 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.

Study Details

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Interventions