Indirect Vocal Therapy as a Treatment Program for Behavioral Dysphonia: A Pilot Study.

INTRODUCTION: Indirect vocal therapy (IVT) has tools that aim to modify an individual's behavior, emotional factors, and physical environment for restoring vocal quality. Then, vocal health guidance may promote the desire for caring about the voice and prevent or treat behavioral dysphonia. However, studies that used parts of IVT have shown conflicting results. Hence, the main objective of this study was to introduce an IVT program based on the taxonomy of Van Stan et al. [Am J Speech Lang Pathol. 2015;24(2):101-25]. The second objective of this study was to analyze the preliminary effects of the IVT program on vocal comfort through the self-assessment of vocal fatigue, vocal symptoms, vocal handicap, and vocal quality in patients diagnosed with behavioral dysphonia. METHOD: This is an experimental, analytical, and prospective pilot study. Nine participants (five women; four men) aged between 18 and 50 years with behavioral dysphonia participated in this study. They underwent the IVT program with guidance about vocal health, general health, emotional factors, and motivation. The therapy was implemented twice per week, totalizing eight sessions, each lasting 35 min. Participants were assessed before therapy started (M1), after it ended (M2), and 1 month after as a follow-up (M3). As assessment, participants filled in the Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI), Voice Symptoms Scale (VoiSS), and Vocal Handicap Index-30 (VHI-30). Additionally, they had their voices recorded for acoustic measures (i.e., cepstral peak prominence-smoothed, alpha ratio, and L1-L0) and auditory-perceptual analysis using the GRBASI scale. RESULTS: The acoustic measures and auditory-perceptual analysis showed no significant differences between the assessment moments. The auditory-perceptual analysis showed a mild deviation in participants' vocal quality. The participants' scores of the VFI, VoiSS, and VHI were lower in M2 and remained lower in M3. CONCLUSION: The IVT program had positive results in voice-related self-assessment and vocal comfort. However, further studies are necessary to elucidate its effects on the vocal quality of participants with behavioral dysphonia.

Adaptación lingüística y cultural chilena del Voice Handicap Index (VHI) y del Voice Handicap Index 10 (VHI-10) / Chilean linguistic and cross-cultural adaptation of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) and the Voice Handicap Index 10 (VHI-10)

El presente estudio buscó adaptar lingüística y culturalmente el cuestionario de autovaloración vocal norteamericano Voice Handicap Index (VHI) al español chileno. Para esto se realizaron cuatro traducciones directas del VHI al español chileno de forma independiente. Luego, se consensuó una traducción general (TG) a partir del juicio de tres profesionales de la fonoaudiología. Esta TG fue traducida inversamente al idioma original para ser comparada con la versión original por el mismo grupo de profesionales de la fonoaudiología, llegando a la primera versión del Índice de Desventaja Vocal Chileno(IDV-Cl). Esta versión fue aplicada a veinte personas con diagnóstico de disfonía, considerando una escala Likert de frecuencia. Durante la adaptación, se consideró pertinente dejar constancia de las consignas no comprendidas o que resultaron inapropiadas culturalmente para el vocabulario chileno. De acuerdo con las observaciones recogidas, se revisó y modificó el instrumento, dando paso a la segunda versión del IDV-Cl, que fue aplicada a seis personas con diagnóstico de disfonía. En esta etapa no se plantearon nuevas sugerencias de cambio. El IDV-Cl refleja la versión original del inglés, tanto en la cantidad de ítems, como en los subcomponentes físico, funcional y emocional que lo conforman. Mediante la síntesis de esta encuesta se pudo obtener también una versión abreviada, que consta de diez ítems (IDV-Cl-10). En conclusión, se establece la equivalencia cultural y lingüística del cuestionario VHI en español chileno, del que se origina la versión IDV-Cl e IDV-Cl-10.

The present study aimed to linguistically and culturally adapt the North American vocal self-assessment questionnaire, Voice Handicap Index (VHI), to Chilean Spanish. To this end, four direct translations of the VHI were carried out independently into Chilean Spanish. Subsequently, a general translation (GT) was agreed upon based on the judgment of three speech-language therapists. This GT was back-translated into the original language and compared with the original version by the same group of speech therapy professionals, which resulted in the first version of the Chilean Índice de Desventaja Vocal [Vocal Disadvantage Index] (IDV-Cl). This version was then applied to twenty people diagnosed with dysphonia, using a Likert scale for frequency. During the adaptation, it was deemed pertinent to make a note of the statements that were not understood or were culturally inappropriate for the Chilean vocabulary. The instrument was revised and modified based on the observations made by the participants, thus creating a second version of the IDV-Cl, which was then applied to six people diagnosed with dysphonia. No new suggestions for change were made at this stage. The IDV-Cl reflects the original version in English, both in the number of items and in the physical, functional, and emotional subcomponents that comprise it. Through the synthesis of this survey, it was also possible to obtain an abbreviated version, consisting of ten items (IDV-Cl-10). In conclusion, the cultural and linguistic equivalence of the VHI questionnaire in Chilean Spanish is established, resulting in the IDV-Cl and IDV-Cl-10 versions of this instrument.

Sense of Coherence and Coping Strategies in Patients With Dysphonia.

AIM: To analyze sense of coherence (SOC) of dysphonic individuals considering the type and degree of dysphonia, coping strategies, and sociodemographic variables. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed with 50 dysphonic individuals under follow-up at a Brazilian Speech-Language Pathology Clinic. They answered a questionnaire with sociodemographic information, the PEED-10 (Brazilian Voice Disability Coping Questionnaire) and the Brazilian version of Sense of Coherence scale. The SOC was categorized as high or low using Cluster analysis. After descriptive analysis, data were analyzed through both the bivariate and multivariate logistic regression model method and the Spearman's correlation test (P< 0.05). RESULTS: Most individuals presented a high SOC (60%). Individuals with mild dysphonia were 7.00 times more likely to present high SOC (95% CI = 1.24-39.38).  Individuals between 45 and 70 years old were 5.03 times more likely to present high SOC (95% CI = 1.25-20.28). In addition, the higher SOC, as well as the scores of manageability domain, the lower the use of strategies focused on emotion. CONCLUSION: Patients with mild dysphonia are more likely to have a high SOC. The same goes for individuals over the fourth decade of life. Also, the greater the SOC, the fewer emotional strategies are used to cope with dysphonia.

Non-motor symptoms in spasmodic dysphonia: A case control-study.

OBJECTIVE: Non-motor symptoms (NMS) have been identified in some focal adult-onset dystonia. In the present study we aimed to evaluate the presence of NMS in patients with spasmodic dysphonia (SD), a focal action-induced dystonia that affects intrinsic laryngeal muscle control. METHODS: Seventeen SD patients and 17 control subjects not significantly different in age and sex were evaluated for the presence of NMS. Additionally, voice handicap index (VHI-10), reflux symptom index, neuropsychiatric symptoms and QoL were assessed by validated scales and questionnaires. RESULTS: Patients' group significantly differed from control group in mild depressive symptoms (4.35 ± 3.9 vs. 1.47 ± 2; p=0.01), insomnia (35.3% vs. 14.7%; p=0.016), smell and taste loss (11.8% vs. 0%; p=0.033), swallowing difficulties (17.6% vs. 0%; p=0.007) and throat pain (17.6% vs. 0%; p=0.007). In the group of SD, there was no correlation between voice perception evaluated by VHI-10, number of NMS or QoL. CONCLUSION: Patients with SD have a greater burden of depressive, smell, taste, and sleep NMS than control subjects.

Voice-Related Quality of Life in Idiopathic Subglottic Stenosis: Effect of Serial Intralesional Steroid Injections.

OBJECTIVES: Serial intralesional steroid injection (SILSI) is an emerging treatment for idiopathic subglottic stenosis (ISGS), providing improvement in both subjective symptoms and objective airflow parameters. Little is known about how this airway remodeling affects the voice. This project analyzes subjective voice changes after SILSI and correlates these with airflow parameters. METHODS: An ISGS database containing voice-related quality of life (V-RQOL) and spirometry (peak expiratory flow percentage [%PEF]) was retrospectively queried. Included were ISGS patients from 2009 to 2019 who had at least one SILSI treatment. Encounters without complete data were excluded. Differences between preprocedure and postprocedure metrics were calculated. Correlations and nonparametric bivariate analysis were performed. RESULTS: Six hundred and seventeen steroid injections were performed in 55 patients, with an average of 3.5 years of follow-up. The average V-RQOL for all patient encounters, both pre- and postprocedure, showed little subjective dysphonia (83.5 of 100, 95% confidence interval [CI] 81.6 to 85.4). Considering SILSI-only treatments, there were 143 encounters with full data; of these, V-RQOL improved in 70 (49.0%), did not change in 40 (28.0%), and worsened in 33 (23.0%). Average V-RQOL improvement for the entire cohort was 1.9 points (95% CI: 0.7 to 3.2), which was small but significant (P = .0003). Across all data, there was a weak but significant correlation between PEF% and V-RQOL (ρ = 0.22, P = .0043). CONCLUSION: SILSI was associated with improvement in subjective voice ratings in about half of patients, and the improvement correlated with improved airflow measurements. This research adds to the growing body of data regarding SILSI and suggests that further work on functional changes to the larynx with airway remodeling is imperative. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:366-369, 2021.

Voice and Stroboscopic Characteristics in Transgender Patients Seeking Gender-Affirming Voice Care.

OBJECTIVE: Understanding transgender voice is in nascent stages. This study describes voice characteristics in treatment-seeking trans women by comparing two validated questionnaires-Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) and Transsexual Voice Questionnaire (TVQMtF )-and reports incidence of abnormal stroboscopy findings and acoustic characteristics. METHODS: Retrospective review of transgender patients presenting to tertiary-care laryngology center between February 2018-February 2019. Mean VHI-10, TVQ, and Singing VHI-10 (SVHI-10) scores; audio-perceptual grade; acoustic measures; and stroboscopy findings were analyzed. VHI-10 and SVHI-10 vs TVQMtF were compared. RESULTS: Sixty-one trans female patients (mean age: 32 ± 11 years) were analyzed. Mean duration since start of transition was 41.5 ± 61 months. Sixty-nine percent presented full-time female in all contexts. Pathologic stroboscopy findings were found in 5%. Mean questionnaire scores were 16 ± 10 (VHI-10), 19 ± 13 (SVHI-10), and 81 ± 22 (TVQMtF ). Correlation between VHI-10 and SVHI-10 versus TVQMtF was weak, R = 0.47 (P = .053) and R = 0.35 (P = .17), respectively. Mean audio-perceptual grade was 0.27 ± 0.15. Mean Cepstral Spectral Index of Dysphonia (CSID, sustained vowel) was 8.5 ± 21.9. Mean Cepstral Peak Prominence (CPP) Fo and CPP Fo SD in rainbow passage were 157.3 ± 16 and 59.4 ± 15.9, respectively. CONCLUSION: Trans women report perceived voice handicap in speaking and singing, which appears separate from gender-related voice/communication concerns. This study is the first to report stroboscopy findings in transgender individuals, with 5% being abnormal. Stroboscopy is encouraged before initiating voice intervention in transgender patients. Preliminary evaluation suggests weak correlation between VHI-10 or SVHI-10 and TVQMtF but requires further investigation. TVQMtF may provide information which more specifically reflects voice concerns of trans women as compared to VHI-10 and SVHI-10. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:1071-1077, 2021.

Hey Siri: How Effective are Common Voice Recognition Systems at Recognizing Dysphonic Voices?

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Interaction with voice recognition systems, such as Siri™ and Alexa™, is an increasingly important part of everyday life. Patients with voice disorders may have difficulty with this technology, leading to frustration and reduction in quality of life. This study evaluates the ability of common voice recognition systems to transcribe dysphonic voices. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective evaluation of "Rainbow Passage" voice samples from patients with and without voice disorders. METHODS: Participants with (n = 30) and without (n = 23) voice disorders were recorded reading the "Rainbow Passage". Recordings were played at standardized intensity and distance-to-dictation programs on Apple iPhone 6S™, Apple iPhone 11 Pro™, and Google Voice™. Word recognition scores were calculated as the proportion of correctly transcribed words. Word recognition scores were compared to auditory-perceptual and acoustic measures. RESULTS: Mean word recognition scores for participants with and without voice disorders were, respectively, 68.6% and 91.9% for Apple iPhone 6S™ (P < .001), 71.2% and 93.7% for Apple iPhone 11 Pro™ (P < .001), and 68.7% and 93.8% for Google Voice™ (P < .001). There were strong, approximately linear associations between CAPE-V ratings of overall severity of dysphonia and word recognition score, with correlation coefficients (R2 ) of 0.609 (iPhone 6S™), 0.670 (iPhone 11 Pro™), and 0.619 (Google Voice™). These relationships persisted when controlling for diagnosis, age, gender, fundamental frequency, and speech rate (P < .001 for all systems). CONCLUSION: Common voice recognition systems function well with nondysphonic voices but are poor at accurately transcribing dysphonic voices. There was a strong negative correlation with word recognition scores and perceptual voice evaluation. As our society increasingly interfaces with automated voice recognition technology, the needs of patients with voice disorders should be considered. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:1599-1607, 2021.

Barriers to Voice Therapy Attendance in a Language-Diverse Population.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Voice therapy is an effective treatment for many voice disorders, but success depends on attendance and adherence. Many factors hinder treatment attendance, and language discordance with the provider may present an additional obstacle to attending therapy. This study evaluates factors associated with voice therapy attendance at a language-diverse, safety-net hospital. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. METHODS: Retrospective review of adult patients referred to speech language pathology for treatment of voice disorders from January, 2018 to April, 2019. Primary spoken language, interpreter collaboration, and patient demographics were obtained from medical records. Multivariate analysis compared patient factors with voice therapy attendance versus nonattendance. RESULTS: Of 422 patients, 219 (52%) attended at least one therapy session, whereas 203 (48%) did not attend (n = 120) or schedule therapy (n = 83). In multivariate analysis, only the association between public insurance and nonattendance was statistically significant (P = .016). After adjusting for interpreter use and interval between referral and first appointment, patients with private health insurance were 2.35 times more likely to attend therapy compared to those with public insurance (95% confidence interval: 1.18-4.71). Non-English language; interpreter collaboration; distance from hospital; and patient demographics, including age, gender, ethnicity, and birthplace, did not significantly correlate with attendance. CONCLUSIONS: In a culturally and language-diverse cohort of dysphonic patients, individuals with public health insurance were significantly less likely to attend voice therapy. Language-discordant therapy and interpreter collaboration was not a statistically significant barrier to therapy attendance. Additional investigation is warranted to optimize allocation of voice therapy resources for those with public health insurance and for diverse speakers of all languages. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:1835-1839, 2021.

Hyperactive sensorimotor cortex during voice perception in spasmodic dysphonia.

Spasmodic dysphonia (SD) is characterized by an involuntary laryngeal muscle spasm during vocalization. Previous studies measured brain activation during voice production and suggested that SD arises from abnormal sensorimotor integration involving the sensorimotor cortex. However, it remains unclear whether this abnormal sensorimotor activation merely reflects neural activation produced by abnormal vocalization. To identify the specific neural correlates of SD, we used a sound discrimination task without overt vocalization to compare neural activation between 11 patients with SD and healthy participants. Participants underwent functional MRI during a two-alternative judgment task for auditory stimuli, which could be modal or falsetto voice. Since vocalization in falsetto is intact in SD, we predicted that neural activation during speech perception would differ between the two groups only for modal voice and not for falsetto voice. Group-by-stimulus interaction was observed in the left sensorimotor cortex and thalamus, suggesting that voice perception activates different neural systems between the two groups. Moreover, the sensorimotor signals positively correlated with disease severity of SD, and classified the two groups with 73% accuracy in linear discriminant analysis. Thus, the sensorimotor cortex and thalamus play a central role in SD pathophysiology and sensorimotor signals can be a new biomarker for SD diagnosis.

Mental Health and Dysphonia: Which Comes First, and Does That Change Care Utilization?

OBJECTIVES: Voice patients with voice disorders have a high prevalence of distress and mental health (MH) comorbidities, but it is unknown to what extent distress precedes or follows voice disorder diagnoses. Objectives were to compare 1) proportions of voice patients with MH diagnoses who received MH diagnoses first versus voice-related diagnoses first, 2) voice-related diagnoses and care utilization, and 3) time to specialty evaluation in each group. METHODS: Patients with voice and MH diagnoses were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth and Tenth Revisions codes in a large health system data repository from January 2005 through July 2017. Sociodemographics, comorbidities, MH- and voice-related diagnoses, and voice-related care utilization were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariable regression modeling. RESULTS: Among the 11,419 patients with both voice and MH diagnoses, 63% (n = 7,251) received MH diagnoses prior to voice diagnoses, compared with 37% with a voice diagnosis first (P < 0.0001). The latter group received more specific voice-related diagnoses (e.g., laryngeal cancer [odds ratio (OR) 4.27], benign laryngeal neoplasm [OR 1.60]), and were more likely to ever see an otolaryngologist than those receiving MH diagnoses first (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Most patients with voice and MH diagnoses received a MH diagnosis first. Patients who receive MH diagnoses first appeared to have different voice-related healthcare compared to those who received voice diagnoses first. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 130:1243-1248, 2020.

Motivational Stage Analysis of Patients with Behavioral Dysphonia.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the applicability of the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA)-VOICE scale before and after a therapeutic program for functional balance in voice production. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The sample comprised 26 adult participants (18 female) from the -Brazilian Public Healthcare System. The URICA-VOICE scale was applied prior to the intervention and after 10 sessions of a therapeutic program. RESULTS: The motivational stage values were significantly increased after the intervention compared with the first application of the scale. Precontemplation and action were the stages most commonly reported by the participants. Significant differences were found in 6 statements of the URICA-VOICE scale after voice therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The motivational stage of the participants improved after voice therapy. Being motivated is important for adherence to behavioral changes regarding the voice, and this study shows that using the URICA-VOICE scale in clinical practice is essential to measure patient performance in the voice therapy process, as well as to determine the ideal moment of discharge.

Correlating Undiagnosed Hearing Impairment with Hyperfunctional Dysphonia.

PURPOSE: This study initially investigated the co-occurrence of hearing impairment that had not been previously diagnosed in a group of patients with hyperfunctional dysphonia. Subsequently, it explored whether any correlations exist between quantitative dysphonia severity assessment parameters and distinctive acoustic features of hearing impairment. METHOD: The age-stratified participants were 36 patients presenting with hyperfunctional dysphonia to the voice clinic. For each subject, the following measurements were collected: grade of dysphonia severity rating by the clinician, a Voice Handicap Index (VHI) Patient Questionnaire, and an acoustic analysis of a standardized voice sample. Subsequently, the participants were referred to the audiology clinic for pure tone audiometry testing. RESULTS: The co-occurrence of hyperfunctional dysphonia and coincidentally discovered hearing impairment showed a percentage of 33% in the study subjects. There were no significant differences in the acoustic profiles of patients with and without hearing impairment. Mean frequency and jitter % were positively correlated in all investigated cohorts, except in subjects with simultaneous occurrence of hearing impairment and dysphonia. Mean intensity and shimmer % were not correlated in any of the groups investigated. CONCLUSION: The physiological mechanism for regulating pitch perturbation is altered in individuals with hearing impairment compared to normal hearing subjects. Pitch and amplitude perturbation have different regulatory mechanisms.

Measuring the impact of dysphonia on quality of life using health state preferences.

OBJECTIVES: Formal evaluation of health states related to dysphonia have not been rigorously evaluated in affected patients. The objective of this project was to evaluate the health states of mild, moderate, and severe dysphonia using formal health state preference evaluation, and to compare these outcomes with the degree of voice handicap. DESIGN: Prospective health state preference assessment. METHODS: A convenience sample of patients presenting with voice complaints were enrolled from an academic voice center. Demographic and voice handicap index (VHI-10) data were obtained, and an assessment of preference for five health states (monocular blindness, binocular blindness, mild dysphonia, moderate dysphonia, and severe dysphonia) was performed. Utility scores were calculated on a scale from 0 (death) to 1 (perfect health). Analysis was performed with ANOVA testing with post-hoc comparisons and correlation statistics. RESULTS: Of 209 assessments, 149 (75.6%) met quality criteria. Relative to monocular blindness (score 0.61 [CI 0.57-0.64]), moderate dysphonia (0.58 [0.54-0.62]) was rated equivalently, with severe dysphonia (0.33 [0.29-0.37]) ranking significantly worse and mild dysphonia (0.96 [0.95-0.98]) significantly better. Binocular blindness (0.18 [0.15-0.21]) was the worst-ranked health state. There was a weak inverse correlation of VHI-10 with dysphonia-related preference scores; with worsening reported voice handicap, scores decreased. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that dysphonia had a significant impact of quality of life, with moderate dysphonia ranking equivalently with monocular blindness. These numerical estimates may be used for ongoing research into the value and cost-effectiveness of medical, therapeutic, and surgical interventions for voice disorders. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2c (outcomes research) Laryngoscope, 130:E177-E182, 2020.

Translation and Validation of the Voice Catastrophization Index for Persian-Speaking Patients with Dysphonia.

PURPOSE: Catastrophization refers to the cognitive distortion that is experienced by patients with several diseases who suffer from pain. There is some evidence that catastrophization may be found in patients with voice disorders. The Voice Catastrophization Index (VCI) was developed in English to measure catastrophization in patients with dysphonia. The goal of this research was to translate and validate the Persian version of the VCI (P-VCI) for use with Persian-speaking people in Iran and elsewhere. METHODS: This was a prospective and cross-sectional study. First, the questionnaire was translated, then its various psychometric properties were investigated. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in mean P-VCI score between participants with and without dysphonia (p < 0.001). Test-retest reliability for the total score of P-VCI was excellent (ICC = 0.94, p < 0.001), as was its internal consistency, as determined by Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α = 0.956). Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that some of the indices show a good fit for the 3-subscale model. There was a moderate correlation in criterion-related validity between the P-VCI and Voice Activity Participation Profile - Persian version (r = 0.644, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The translated test exhibited satisfactory psychometric properties. The P-VCI is a valid and reliable tool for the assessment of catastrophization in persons with voice disorders.

Vocal Tract Discomfort Scale: Validation of the Argentine Version.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to validate the Vocal Tract Discomfort Scale (VTD) Argentine version. STUDY DESIGN: Nonrandomized, cross-sectional prospective study with control group. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The VTD Scale was culturally and linguistically adapted to Argentinian Spanish according to the recommended requirements of translation, closely observing the methodology that was suggested (translation, summary, review and back-translation). The scale Argentine version (Escala de disconfort del tracto vocal) was administered to 107 patients with muscle-tension dysphonia (MTD) (23 men and 84 women, mean ages being: 32.30 ± 9.09 years old for MTD type I, and 31.23 ± 8.45 years old for MTD type II) and 30 volunteers with no vocal pathology (9 men and 21 women, mean ages being: 44.3 ± 8.72 years old). All patients completed the Escala de disconfort del tracto vocal before and after Mathieson Laryngeal Manual Therapy. The results of the VTD Scale administered in both patients and vocally healthy subjects were initially compared; the changes arising from pre and post therapy were also compared in the second phase. The internal consistency of the VTD Scale was assessed using Cronbach alpha coefficient. RESULTS: The internal consistency assessed was considered acceptable for both subscales within the VTD Scale. The values obtained for frequency, severity, and total score of the Scale were similar in patients with MTD I and MTD II, marking a difference with those obtained in the control group of healthy volunteers. A lump feeling in the throat was one of the most frequent symptoms in both MTD and vocally healthy groups. CONCLUSION: The VTD Scale shows an acceptable consistency, so it is a highly reproducible, reliable, and valuable instrument of evaluation to assess Argentinian patients with voice disorders.

Web-Based Perceived Present Control Intervention for Voice Disorders: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: Voice disorders are common and negatively affect various life domains such as occupational functioning and emotional well-being. Perceived present control, a factor that is amenable to change, may reduce the effect of voice disorders on these outcomes. This pilot study aimed to (1) establish the feasibility, usability, and acceptability of a web-based perceived present control intervention for individuals with voice disorders and (2) gather preliminary data on the effectiveness of the intervention. This study is the first to assess whether a web-based psychological intervention would decrease self-reported voice handicap in this population. METHODS: Participants (N = 20) were recruited from an otolaryngology clinic at a large, Midwest university and the surrounding urban community, and completed a 3-week web-based intervention that incorporated psychoeducation and written exercises on increasing perceived present control. RESULTS: Supporting feasibility, the intervention components had high completion rates (75%-95%). Most participants planned to continue the perceived control exercises after study completion and would recommend the intervention to others, demonstrating usability and acceptability. There was a significant decrease in self-reported voice handicap (Voice Handicap Index-10) from pretest (M = 18.38, standard deviation = 4.41) to post-test (M = 15.22, standard deviation = 4.55) with a large effect size (within-group d = -0.86, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Focusing on perceived present control as a teachable skill may be a useful addition to voice disorder treatment armamentarium. Future studies will incorporate a comparison group and larger sample sizes to assess further the role of perceived present control interventions in voice care.

Frailty Syndrome, Cognition, and Dysphonia in the Elderly.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the current study is to determine the relation of frailty syndrome to acoustic measures of voice quality and voice-related handicap. METHODS: Seventy-three adults (52 community-dwelling participants and 21 assisted living residents) age 60 and older completed frailty screening, acoustic assessment, cognitive screening, and the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10). Factor analysis was used to consolidate acoustic measures. Statistical analysis included multiple regression, analysis of variance, and Tukey post-hoc tests with alfa of 0.05. RESULTS: Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and exhaustion explained 28% of the variance in VHI-10. MoCA and sex explained 27% of the variance in factor 1 (spectral ratio), age and MoCA explained 13% of the variance in factor 2 (cepstral peak prominence for speech), and slowness explained 10% of the variance in factor 3 (cepstral peak prominence for sustained /a/). There were statistically significant differences in two measures across frailty groups: VHI-10 and MoCA. Acoustic factor scores did not differ significantly among frailty groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Voice-related handicap and cognitive status differed among robust and frail older adults, yet vocal function measures did not. The components of frailty most related to VHI-10 were exhaustion and weight loss rather than slowness, weakness, or inactivity. Based on these findings, routine screening of physical frailty and cognition are recommended as part of a complete voice evaluation for older adults.

Stages of Readiness in Patients With Dysphonia: A Proposal Based on Factor Analysis Using the URICA-V Scale.

INTRODUCTION: In terms of treatment results, the readiness stage presents the best conditions for adherence to a therapeutic proposal, and it allows for an estimated disease prognosis and assistance with treatment monitoring. Patients with dysphonia who are treated using vocal rehabilitation (basically a behavioral program), regardless of disease etiology, can optimize their treatment by understanding the stages of behavioral change. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the accuracy of the components constituting the stages of readiness to change on the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment-Voice (URICA-V) scale using confirmatory factor analysis and internal consistency indices. METHODS: This documentary study evaluated the records of 488 patients with dysphonia collected from a voice laboratory database. Most of the patients were Brazilian women with higher education who were single, nonprofessional voice users. The results of the URICA-V self-assessment questionnaire were analyzed to determine the patients' stage of readiness to change when vocal rehabilitation was proposed as a treatment. A descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was conducted using confirmatory factor analysis to determine the correlation between the questionnaire items and the stages of readiness. RESULTS: Of the eight items in the precontemplation stage, only four presented significant factor loading within that stage. Three items in the action stage did not present significant factor loading during that stage. The items in the contemplation and maintenance stages presented significant factor loadings within their respective stages. CONCLUSIONS: The results of a confirmatory factor analysis allowed us to propose an adjustment to the URICA-V scale. The objective of the adjusted scale is to improve the instrument's ability to make evaluations prethrepy and posttherapy and to more reliably assess readiness in patients undergoing voice therapy.

Characteristics of the Voice Handicap Index for Patients With Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis Who Underwent Arytenoid Adduction.

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the characteristics of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI), a self-assessment measure, for patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) who underwent arytenoid adduction (AA), in comparison with postoperative vocal function examinations. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted for patients who underwent AA at Tohoku University Hospital during the period between 2014 and 2017. VHI was compared before and after surgery; moreover, correlations were assessed between the VHI and other voice measurements, including perceptual assessment of voice, as well as aerodynamic and acoustic measures. Factors involved in the VHI score were explored by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Forty-three UVFP patients (28 males, age 32-81 years; 15 females, age 34-80 years) were enrolled in the study; the average age of all patients was 61.5 years (32-81 years). Among the enrolled patients, 33 (76.7%) left and 10 (23.3%) right vocal folds were impaired. After surgery, nearly all of the patients exhibited significantly improved VHI score; each of the three subscales (functional, physical, and emotional) was also improved. The postoperative VHI correlated mildly with several values of the other voice measurements, with the exception of the mean flow rate. Multivariate analysis showed that the sole variable associated with postoperative VHI score was preoperative VHI. CONCLUSIONS: The postoperative VHI likely reflects improvement in the voices of the patients with UVFP. Although there were weak correlations with other voice measures, postoperative VHI is a relatively independent measurement parameter for patients with UVFP who underwent AA.

[Aggravating factors of dysphonia in preschool children: differences between children with and without dysphonia]. / Factores favorecedores de disfonía en niños en edad preescolar: diferencias entre niños con y sin disfonía.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if there are differences in factors favoring dysphonia in a group of preschool children with healthy voice and another with dysphonia. METHOD: In this research a total of 96 children between 2 and 5 years old were evaluated, of which 17 had dysphonia and 79 had a healthy voice. The presence of factors favoring dysphonia was compared between both groups, by means of a questionnaire addressed to their parents or caregivers created and validated especially for this research. Statistical analysis was performed by independent samples analysis to extract the p value. RESULTS: The results show a significant difference in the values of the questionnaire (p=0.000) between the two groups. The 91.6% of the questions behaved differently between the groups with and without dysphonia. CONCLUSION: In this research, differences were found between the presence of factors favoring dysphonia in preschool children with and without dysphonia. The factors that have more differences are related to physical, environmental and psychological causes.

OBJETIVO: Determinar si existen diferencias en factores favorecedores de disfonía, en un grupo de niños preescolares con voz saludable y otro con disfonía. MÉTODO: En esta investigación se evalúo a un total de 96 niños entre los 2 y 5 años, de los cuales 17 presentaban disfonía y 79, voz saludable. Se comparó la presencia de factores favorecedores de disfonía entre ambos grupos, mediante un cuestionario dirigido a sus padres o cuidadores creado y validado especialmente para esta investigación. El análisis estadístico se realizó mediante análisis de muestras independientes para extraer el valor de p. RESULTADOS: Los resultados muestran una diferencia significativa en los valores del cuestionario (p=0,000) entre ambos grupos. El 91,6% de las preguntas se comportaron diferentes entre los grupos con y sin disfonía. CONCLUSIÓN: En esta investigación se encontraron diferencias entre la presencia de factores favorecedores de disfonía en niños preescolares con y sin disfonía. Los factores que tienen más diferencias tienen relación con causas físicas, ambientales y psicológicas.