Summary
Purpose: To investigate the effectiveness of vocal therapy with the use of low-frequency
transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) followed by voice exercises on
vocal fold lesion size, vocal quality and quality of life in dysphonic women. Methods:
27 women with vocal nodules participated, randomized into to: experimental group (EG)—13
women who received vocal therapy with 12 sessions of 20 min of TENS application (pulse:200μs,
frequency:10Hz, motor threshold intensity, electrodes positioned in the trapezius
muscle [descending fibers and submandibular region, bilaterally]). Each TENS session
was followed by 30 min of vocal exercises; and the Control Group (CG)- 14 women who
received 12 sessions with 20 min of application of placebo TENS (same conditions EG,
but without receiving the stimulus electric), followed by 30 min of vocal exercise.
Before, immediately after and one month after vocal therapy, participants underwent
vocal recording for acoustic analysis, vocal self-assessment, laryngological examination
and answered voice-related quality of life (V-RQOL) protocol. Results: There was reduction
in the size of vocal fold lesions only in the EG, immediately after treatment and
one month after treatment. Acoustic analysis showed decreases in SPI values immediately
after and one month after treatment in both groups. There was improvement in voice
self-perception in both groups after treatment and one month after, but no significant
difference in V-RQOL values. Conclusion: TENS followed by vocal exercises produced
results similar to vocal therapy without TENS regarding voice quality, self-perception
and quality of life in voice. However, vocal therapy with low-frequency TENS followed
by vocal exercise was effective in reducing vocal fold lesion size in dysphonic women.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 03, 2022
Accepted:
August 3,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofIdentification
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© 2022 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
