Comparing Telepractice and Conventional Face-to-face Voice Therapy

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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People over 55 years are high-risk with voice disorders. Voice disordered elderly need vocal training in order to improve communication efficiency and quality of life. However, participation in vocal training of elderly is often restricted by motivation, time of practice, and availability to hospital, which thus reduces treatment effects. The purpose of the study is to design a telecommunication vocal training system and a vocal training program for voice disordered elderly in Taiwan. The investigator proposed a 3-year consecutive study, including a single-blind, randomized controlled trial, to test the hypothesis that vocal training via telepractice for voice disordered elderly are not inferior to the standard face to face training.

Detailed Description
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Randomization: per mutated block, 40 patients on each arms (experimental and control) Allocation: sealed envelope indicating either of the 2 groups Intervention: weekly vocal training, each course last for 30-40 minutes,lasting for 2 months Outcome measurement: before treatment, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after treatment Primary outcome: 10-item voice handicap index Secondary outcome: acoustics and aerodynamic parameter

Official Title
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Voice Therapy for Benign Voice Disorders in the Elderly: A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Telepractice and Conventional Face-to-face Therapy

Conditions
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Dysphonia, Aged, Speech Therapy

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Vocal Training Via Telepractice
* Behavioral: Vocal Training Via face-to face practice


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion criteria: patient equal or older than 55 years old Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) score >10 point accessibility to a network connection Exclusion criteria neurologic disorders active pulomanory disease mental disorder

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 55 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: experimental<br>Vocal Training via Telepractice | Behavioral: Vocal Training Via Telepractice<br>* Vocal Training Via Telepractice, delivered by integrated communication service<br>|
| Active Comparator: control<br>Vocal Training via face-to-face practice | Behavioral: Vocal Training Via face-to face practice<br>* Vocal Training Via face-to face practice at medical facilities<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change from Baseline of 10-item voice handicap index at 2 months | min: 0(best); Max: 40(worst); | before treatment (after signing informed consent, prior to randomization) and within 2 weeks after the completion of voice therapy |