Effectiveness of the Enriched Stuttering Intervention Program Used in Stuttering Children.

Objectives: In this study, we examined the effectiveness of the Enriched Stuttering Intervention Program (ESIP), developed by the researchers, on children with stuttering difficulties. More specifically, we examined the frequency of stuttering, duration of stuttering, behaviors accompanying stuttering, and whether there was a significant difference in the naturalness of speech. Methods: We used a quasi-experimental design. The study group study consisted of 5 boys admitted to a Special Education and Rehabilitation Centre during 2019-2020 and diagnosed by a pediatric psychiatrist with stuttering. The information forms prepared by the researchers were used to be completed by the family, the teacher, and the child to collect personal information about the children. We used the Stuttering Severity Instrument (SSI-4) to collect our research data. Results: When we compared pre-test and post-test data, we found a statistically significant difference in the severity of stuttering in the 5 children. Conclusion: The Enriched Stuttering Intervention Program improved stuttering in this group of children.

Use of porous polyethylene implant for augmentation of the posterior pharynx in young adult patients with borderline velopharyngeal insufficiency.

In the current study, we evaluated the efficiency of using porous polyethylene implant to correct velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) in young adult patients. Ten male patients with VPI, aged 21 to 27 years, underwent posterior pharyngeal wall augmentation with porous polyethylene implant. The evaluations for VPI on all patients in the study included speech evaluation of nasality and articulation, mirror test, nasopharyngoscopy, and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Evaluation of the methods for correcting VPI was done preoperatively and 6 months after surgery, and the results were compared. According to preoperative speech evaluation, 7 patients had severe hypernasal speech and 3 patients had moderate hypernasal speech. Follow-up evaluations demonstrated that 7 patients had normal speech without hypernasal resonance. Although all patients had nasal escape on mirror test preoperatively, only 2 had nasal escape postoperatively. When the preoperative and postoperative results of the Multi-Dimensional Voice Programme were analyzed, there was a statistically significant improvement in all parameters. The distance between the posterior pharyngeal wall and the velum during phonation observed preoperatively had disappeared in the postoperative period in all of the patients' sagittal-plane MR scans. In the axial views of the MR scans, the velopharyngeal gap area calculated preoperatively was reduced in the postoperative period. We conclude that posterior pharyngeal wall augmentation with porous polyethylene implant is an effective method in the correction of mild VPI in adult patients.

[Results of voice therapy in functional voice disorders]. / Fonksiyonel ses hastaliklarinda ses terapisi sonuçlarimiz.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy of voice therapy techniques in 37 patients with functional dysphonia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The patients were divided into three groups according to the type of functional voice disorder, including mutational falsetto (n=16), vocal nodule (n=17), and muscle-tension dysphonia (n=4). All the patients received voice therapy which varied according to the frequency of visits, time, and techniques for the type of functional voice disorder. Voices of the patients were evaluated subjectively by a questionnaire and the GRBAS scale, and objectively by videolaryngostroboscopy and computed voice analysis before and after the therapy. RESULTS: Fifteen patients with mutational falsetto (93%), eight patients with vocal nodules (47%), and all the patients with muscle-tension dysphonia were cured by voice therapy techniques. Vocal nodules were reduced in 35% of the patients and were stable in three patients (18%). CONCLUSION: Successful results can be obtained by voice therapy techniques in functional voice disorders, which are common in otolaryngology practice, causing difficulties in diagnosis and management.