Treating Laryngeal Hyperfunction With Flow Phonation

The purposes of the proposed study are: a) to determine whether Flow Phonation can decrease Laryngeal Resistance (Rlaw) in patients with Muscle Tension Dysphonia (MTD); and b)establish the relationship between changes in measures of Rlaw and phonatory airflow to endoscopic, perceptual, acoustic, and handicap assessment ratings. MTD can have a debilitating effect on individuals who rely on their voices the most-teachers, preachers,salespeople, singers-costing them time, money, and even their jobs. It can lead to vocal fatigue, pain, and complete loss of voice. While treatments have emerged with some promising effects, no treatments have proven to have long-term benefits to all patients. Our preliminary data demonstrate Flow Phonation training resulted in significant decreases in Laryngeal Resistance to phonatory airflow with associated improvements in voice quality and voice handicap ratings. Sample size for our pilot study was small; no control group was utilized; and outcome measures were limited. In the proposed investigation, a larger sample will be obtained, a control group of participants receiving only Vocal Hygiene Training will be used for comparison during the first 3 weeks, and a wider range of outcome measures will be included over a longer period of time (1 year).

All participants will complete the Evaluation Protocol at baseline, after 3 weeks (PERIOD 1),after 6 weeks (PERIOD 2), and for follow-up at 3, 6, and 12 months post-treatment. During PERIOD 1 (first 3 weeks), participants in ARM 1 will receive Vocal Hygiene Training as well as Airflow Exercise Training and participants in ARM 2 (the Control Arm) will receive only Vocal Hygiene Training. Vocal hygiene training alone has been demonstrated to have minimal impact on voicing32-34. During Period 2 (second 3 weeks), participants in BOTH ARMS will receive Vocal Hygiene Training and Airflow Exercise Training (Fig 3). Thus, participants in Arm 2 will receive no Flow Phonation for initial controlled comparison then 3 weeks of Flow Phonation for dose response comparison to Arm 1 (non-control) participants.

Assessment Protocol

Each participant will receive the Complete Evaluation Protocol at Baseline, after 3 weeks(PERIOD 1), after an additional 3 weeks (PERIOD 2), as well as at 3, 6, and 12 months posttreatment. These will include:

a. Laryngostroboscopic Examination b) Perceptual Voice Analysis/CAPE-V48-49 c) Acoustic Analysis/Computerized Speech Lab(CSL, KayPENTAX Corp) d) Aerodynamic Analysis/The KayPENTAX Phonatory Aerodynamic System (PAS) Model 6600 (KayPENTAX Corp.

e) Patients' Perception of Voice Handicap/Voice Handicap Index

Treatment Protocol Flow Phonation Each treatment session will take place in the same clinical room as the assessment and utilize three exercises: gargling, cup bubble blowing, and stretch and flow. Each exercise uses a built in form of biofeedback (water or tissue) and the same basic progression of activities (with minor alterations): 1) airflow task without voicing to establish positive airflow; 2) adding voicing to the task; 3) moving up and down the pitch range during the voicing task; 4) moving to a speaking/voicing task; and 5) removing biofeedback. During each vocalization attempt, the clinician listens for a clear and effortless vocal quality and trains the participant to listen.

Vocal Hygiene Training Vocal hygiene training centers on three factors: 1) hydration, 2) exogenous inflammation control, and 3) abstinence from yelling and screaming. Information will be provided initially as a Powerpoint presentation, during which each participant will have a manual and will write down answers to specific questions. Based on responses to the questions, the study clinician, in concert with the participant, will develop a set of recommendations for vocal hygiene. Examples of potential vocal hygiene targets are provided in Table 2. Three to five recommendations will be targeted for each participant, based on clinical judgment, although these numbers will serve only as a guide.

Participants will be provided a daily log to utilize where they can mark each target daily and make comments on how the target was met or not met. Each treatment session where Vocal Hygiene Training is targeted, alone or in concert with Airflow Training, participants will first present their goals, then provide the daily log and discuss successes and failures since the prior session. The study clinician and participant will then discuss the benefits of the successes and problem solve ways to improve upon failures.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Rlaw greater than 1 standard deviation above or below mean
* Voice Handicap Index of greater than 18
* CAPE-V severity of 20 or greater
* willing to sign informed consent
* women must not have experienced menopause or be pregnant

Exclusion Criteria:

* organic lesion of the vocal folds
* history of neurologic disease
* history of head and neck cancer
* pulmonary disease