Intensive Versus Traditional Voice Therapy

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to determine if there are differences in treatment outcomes between traditional voice therapy, performed weekly for a maximum of 6 weeks versus intensive voice therapy, consisting of 4-6 therapy sessions performed within one day.

Detailed Description
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The goal of voice therapy is optimal long-term vocal quality and communication function with minimal recurrence. Traditional voice therapy for dysphonia typically consists of one to two therapy sessions each week with a single clinician for about 8 weeks. Another approach of voice therapy is intensive short-term therapy also known as boot camp. This approach, borrows from the disciplines of neurobiology, exercise physiology, motor learning, and psychotherapy which describe desirable learning and behavior changes influenced by practice that involves high-intensity overload, variability, and specificity of training. A few studies have showed that Boot Camp model of intensive therapy resulted in comparable gains in voice quality and vibratory mechanics and may promote better patient satisfaction and attendance. While such findings support the notion that intensive voice therapy may enhance voice therapy outcomes, no study to date has examined patient response to the Boot Camp approach to voice therapy. The investigators will compare the outcomes of traditional, weekly voice therapy and intensive voice therapy with multiple sessions in one day.

Official Title
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Voice-related Outcomes in Response to Intensive Versus Traditional Therapy Programs

Conditions
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Dysphonia

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Weekly Voice Therapy
* Behavioral: Intensive Voice Therapy


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosed with a Voice disorder Diagnosed with benign vocal fold lesions and/or hyper-function First/primary propose treatment modality is voice therapy Patients who are appropriate for either standard of care treatment modality (traditional or intensive voice therapy) Willingness to participate in either standard of care treatment modality All races Males and females English speaking Exclusion Criteria: Younger than 18 Inability or unwillingness to participate in one of the standard of care treatment modalities Laryngeal Surgery or procedures during course of study Prisoners

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 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
Interventional Model Description: For purposes of this study participants will be randomized into one of the following two groups: 4-6 weekly standard of care therapy sessions, once a week, for a maximum of six weeks 4-6 standard of care therapy sessions in one day Standard of care treatment may continue past patient enrollment in this study.
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Placebo Comparator: Weekly Voice Therapy<br>Participants are randomized to receiving weekly voice therapy sessions | Behavioral: Weekly Voice Therapy<br>* Participants will be randomized to receive weekly voice therapy<br>|
| Active Comparator: Intensive Voice Therapy<br>Participants are randomized to receiving multiple sessions of voice therapy in one day | Behavioral: Intensive Voice Therapy<br>* Participants will be randomized to receive multiple sessions of voice therapy in one day.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Self-efficacy and readiness scale Changes | Pre to Post difference in participant's self-efficacy for voice practice and healthy voice technique between therapy groups and within subsets of subjects - readiness ruler of 0 (not at all) to 10 (extremely) | Baseline compared to Immediately post voice therapy | 
| Self-efficacy and readiness scale Change | Pre to Post difference in participant's self-efficacy for voice practice and healthy voice technique between therapy groups and within subsets of subjects - readiness ruler of 0 (not at all) to 10 (extremely) | Baseline compared to 12 weeks post voice therapy | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Voice disorder, Hoarseness, Phonation Disorders, Speech Disorders