Summary
Objectives
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of Voice Therapy (VT)
with and without Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) in women with
Muscle Tension Dysphonia (MTD).
Methods
A total of 20 women with MTD participated in the study. Participants underwent evaluation
of auditory-perceptual assessment, acoustic voice analysis, Vocal Tract Discomfort
(VTD), and musculoskeletal pain before and after the treatment. The participants were
divided into two groups: (1) TENS + VT group (10 participants) and (2) VT group (10
participants). Both groups received 10 sessions of treatment, twice a week, each lasting
50 minutes. The statistical analysis was performed using Wilcoxon signed ranked and
Mann-Whitney U tests (P < 0.05).
Results
After VT, significant improvements were observed in all auditory-perceptual parameters
and all VTD items except for the tickling frequency and severity. The VT caused significant
reduction in the frequency of pain in anterior neck, posterior neck, and the larynx.
Also, VT resulted in a significant reduction in pain intensity only in the larynx.
After VT + TENS, significant improvements were observed in all auditory-perceptual
parameters, shimmer, and all VTD items. Moreover, the VT + TENS led to a significant
decrease in the frequency and intensity of pain in anterior neck, posterior neck,
the larynx, masseters, shoulders, and upper back. The findings of between-group comparison
after treatment showed significantly more reduction in the frequency (dry and pain
items) and severity (tight and pain items) of the VTD in VT + TENS group compared
with VT group. Regarding the musculoskeletal pain, significantly more reduction in
the frequency and intensity of pain in anterior neck and the larynx was observed in
VT + TENS group compared with VT group.
Conclusions
The VT and VT + TENS could lead to positive outcomes in auditory perceptual assessment,
acoustic voice analysis, the VTD, and assessment of musculoskeletal pain. In some
items of frequency and severity of VTD scale and assessment of musculoskeletal pain,
VT + TENS also produced better results compared with VT. As a result, TENS was recommended
as a complementary therapy for patients with MTD, especially when these patients had
more complaints about VTD and musculoskeletal pain.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 07, 2018
Accepted:
November 5,
2018
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of The Voice Foundation.
