Determining the Outcome of Laryngeal Manual Therapy in Female Subjects with Muscle Tension Dysphonia: An Experimental Study

Abstract

Introduction: Muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) is a voice disorder characterized by excessive muscular tension in the perilaryngeal areas (Roy and Leeper). Laryngeal manual therapy (LMT) is one of the direct approaches of voice therapy that involves kneading the laryngeal area without voicing to reduce hyperfunction of the muscles and improve the quality of voice. Aims and objectives: The present study was conducted to determine the outcome of LMT in females with MTD by comparing assessment data between pre-therapy, immediate post-LMT, and 1 week after LMT. Materials and methods: Ten females (20–40 years) with MTD were taken. Palpatory assessment, Dr Speech (Version 4), GRBAS scale, and voice handicap index (VHI) were used for voice evaluation. First, a pre-therapy assessment of all the voice parameters was collected. Second, LMT was carried out. Immediately after LMT, post-LMT data collection was done. No intervention was given following LMT. After 1 week of LMT, again data collection was done. Results: A significant reduction in vocal parameters of jitter, shimmer, and NNE ( p < 0.05) were found after LMT except for Mean Fo ( p > 0.05). Hoarseness was reduced. A significant difference was found between VHI measures ( p < 0.05), GRBAS scale ( p < 0.05), and palpatory assessment ( p < 0.05) in pre-LMT, immediate post-LMT, and 1-week post-LMT. Conclusion: The present study would assist to determine the therapeutic efficacy of direct voice therapy and in predicting voice therapy outcomes in persons with MTD.