The efficacy of voice therapy for Bangladeshi patients with vocal fold nodules

Abstract

Voice therapy in improving the voice quality of vocal fold nodule patients
has evidentiary support. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of voice
therapy for Bangladeshi patients (N=30) with vocal fold nodules, as well as the
factors (therapy practice and maintenance of vocal hygiene) that influence the
effectiveness or outcome of voice therapy in treating vocal fold nodules. This study
was an observational cohort study of 30 Bangladeshi adult patients with vocal
fold nodules (mean age=41; SD= 8.78). Before and after voice therapy, Phonation
exercises and narrative-telling tasks were used to elicit voice features, and the size
of vocal fold nodules was observed through Fiber Optic Laryngoscopy (FOL). The
data was statistically analyzed using the percentage/proportion test and Fisher’s
exact test to demonstrate the success of voice therapy and the factors impacting
the therapy’s efficacy. The findings indicated that voice therapy was successful
for most participants (87%). Practicing therapy regularly and maintaining vocal
hygiene had an impact on therapy success.