Effectiveness of Vocal Therapy for the Elderly When Applying Conventional and Intensive Approaches: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Autor(es)

Godoy, Juliana ^[1] ; Silverio, Kelly ^[2] ; Brasolotto, Alcione ^[2]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Fed Rio Grande do Norte, Dept Fonoaudiol, Ave Campos Sales 703, Natal, RN - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Odontol Bauru, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: JOURNAL OF VOICE; v. 33, n. 5 SEP 2019.
• Citações Web of Science: 2

Resumo

Objectives. The aim of this study was to verify the effects of the method Vocal Therapy for the Elderly and the differences in treatment efficacy when it was administered intensively or in the conventional way. Methods. Twenty-seven elderly individuals were randomized into two groups and referred for 16 sessions of vocal therapy. The Intensive Group (IG) had therapy four times a week, whereas the Conventional Group had it twice a week. The effects of the therapy were assessed by auditory-perceptual analysis, the Voice-Related Quality of Life protocol, and visual-perceptive analysis of laryngoscopy examinations. The first stage consisted of evaluating the vocal quality and self-assessment of 15 subjects before and after a time period equal to that which they would undergo in vocal therapy. The second stage consisted of comparing the assessments of all participants in the week preceding the beginning of treatment, in the week following the end of treatment, and 1 month after that. Results. There was no difference between perceptual voice parameters and self-assessment when the subjects were not undergoing therapy. When comparing the periods immediately before and after therapy, there was improvement in vocal quality and Voice-Related Quality of Life. One month later, the benefits that had been revealed through the yself-assessment protocol, and some of the improvements in vocal parameters were maintained. There was no difference between the IG and Conventional Group with the exception of vocal fold bowing, which decreased in the IGgroup. Conclusions. The Vocal Therapy for the Elderly program is effective for treating voice presbyphonia. An intensive approach may be superior with regard to vocal fold bowing. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 13/09325-0 - Impacto da terapia vocal em idosos com presbifonia
• Beneficiário: Juliana Fernandes Godoy
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado