Feasibility and Acceptability of Complete Vocal Technique-Voice Therapy as a Treatment for Primary Muscle Tension Dysphonia: A Feasibility Trial.

Aims and objectives: Primary muscle tension dysphonia (pMTD) is a common cause of voice disorders and is treated by speech and language pathologists (SLPs). Some singing teachers specializing in the habilitation of the performance voice also have rehabilitation skills helping singers recover from illness. The aim of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of using a structured and well-characterized habilitation and rehabilitation pedagogic technique for singers, The Complete Vocal Technique (CVT), in the treatment of patients with speaking voice problems due to pMTD. The three study objectives were to: 1) assess the feasibility of recruiting and retaining participants in a CVT-VT program; 2) assess the feasibility of using CVT voice therapy (CVT-VT) to improve the voice and voice function; and 3) assess the acceptability of this approach to patients, the CVT practitioner (CVT-P), and the supervising SLP.

Study design: Preregistered, uncontrolled, prospective feasibility study.

Methods: Patients with pMTD meeting the inclusion criteria in the 6-month trial period were offered up to six telehealth sessions of CVT-VT delivered by the CVT-P. Patients underwent a multidimensional assessment [Voice Handicap Index (VHI), attainment of goals for treatment, Vocal Tract Discomfort Scale (VTDS), acoustic/electroglottographic (EGG) measures of sustained vowels, Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) audio-perceptual evaluation, and maximum phonation time (MPT)] pretherapy and post therapy. Feasibility was assessed by meeting a priori recruitment targets and acceptability assessment framework.

Results: Eleven participants completed the study protocol demonstrating recruitment feasibility. All multidimensional measures, except MPT, showed improvement, demonstrating feasibility of CVT-VT to improve the voice, voice function, vocal tract discomfort, and achievement of goals. All patients and the CVT-P rated the acceptability of therapy as either very satisfactory or satisfactory.

Conclusions: CVT-VT is a feasible and acceptable form of treatment and warrants further evaluation as an additional tool for voice therapy in patients with pMTD.

Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov website (NCT05365126 Unique Protocol ID: 19ET004). Registered 06 May 2022, https://beta.

Clinicaltrials: gov/study/NCT05365126?patient=Muscle%20Tension%20Dysphonia&locStr=Nottingham,%20UK&lat=52.9540223&lng=-1.1549892&distance=50.