The Effects of Respiratory Training on Voice
Muscle Tension Dysphonia
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Muscle Tension Dysphonia focused on measuring voice, voice disorder, treatment, respiratory, muscle tension dysphonia, training
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Ages 18 or older
- Self-report of general good health other than voice disorder
- Self-report of normal pulmonary function
- Non-smoker status for at least the last 5 years
- English as their primary language to avoid potential linguistically-based differences in acoustic measures of voice
- Adequate visual acuity (with or without corrective lenses) to read basic graphs and print, as determined with visual screening
- No evidence of current organic or neurologic laryngeal pathology, as assessed by nasolaryngoscopy examination and reviewed by a laryngologist
- No prior surgery to the vocal folds
- Do not report difficulty with swallowing
- Not currently receiving voice therapy or other voice treatment that cannot be discontinued
- Do not report a bilateral, severe to profound hearing loss
- Willingness to be recorded for data collection that is necessary for this study
- Have a confirming diagnosis of Muscle Tension Dysphonia from an otolaryngologist and speech-language pathologist
- Demonstrate quantified auditory-perceptual dysphonia and acoustic dysphonia (Cepstral/Spectral Index of Dysphonia) that exceed normative values for the participant's age and sex
- Based on the nasolaryngoscopy examination and assessment performed by the otolaryngologist, show one or more patterns of supraglottic activity that are consistent with adducted vocal fold hyperfunction
- Show no evidence of abnormal, incomplete vocal fold closure patterns as determined on the videostroboscopy assessment (patterns of posterior glottal gaps are normal and expected)
- Show no evidence of additional neurological voice disorders such as spasmodic dysphonia or vocal fold paralysis
- Show elevated hyolaryngeal position that exceeds normative expectations as determined through quantitative analysis of ultrasonographic laryngeal images measuring change from rest to phonation
- Demonstrate voice problems that have persisted for ≥2 months
- Demonstrate self-reported increase in speaking effort
- Show evidence of speech breathing abnormalities relative to accepted normative values
Exclusion Criteria:
- Ages 17 or younger
- Self-report of major health problems
- Self-report of pulmonary disease such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or emphysema
- Current smoker status or prior smoker status within the last 5 years
- English not the primary language
- Inadequate visual acuity (with corrective lenses if applicable) to read basic graphs and print as determined by failing a visual screening
- Evidence of current organic or neurologic laryngeal pathology, as assessed by nasolaryngoscopy examination and reviewed by a laryngologist
- Prior surgery to the vocal folds
- Currently receiving voice therapy or other voice treatment that cannot be discontinued
- Self-report of a bilateral, severe to profound hearing loss
- Not willing to be recorded for data collection that is necessary for this study
- No confirming diagnosis of Muscle Tension Dysphonia from an otolaryngologist and speech-language pathologist
- Do not demonstrate quantified auditory-perceptual dysphonia and acoustic dysphonia (Cepstral/Spectral Index of Dysphonia) that exceed normative values for the participant's age and sex
- Based on the nasolaryngoscopy examination and assessment performed by the otolaryngologist, do not show one or more patterns of supraglottic activity that are consistent with adducted vocal fold hyperfunction
- Show evidence of abnormal, incomplete vocal fold closure patterns as determined on the videostroboscopy assessment (patterns of posterior glottal gaps are normal and expected)
- Show evidence of additional neurological voice disorders such as spasmodic dysphonia or vocal fold paralysis
- Do not show elevated hyolaryngeal position that exceeds normative expectations as determined through quantitative analysis of ultrasonographic laryngeal images measuring change from rest to phonation
- Demonstrate voice problems that have persisted for less than 2 months
- Do not demonstrate self-reported increase in speaking effort
- Do not show evidence of speech breathing abnormalities relative to accepted normative values
Sites / Locations
- Syracuse UniversityRecruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Active Comparator
Active Comparator
Breathing training with a device
Breathing training without a device
Respiratory intervention delivered once a week for 6 weeks, after two initial baseline testing sessions. Participants will perform exhalation exercises through a breathing device. Homework activities will be assigned. Post-training testing sessions will also be conducted.
Respiratory intervention delivered once a week for 6 weeks, after two initial baseline testing sessions. Participants will receive training on the use of breathing techniques without a device, but with visual feedback throughout training. Homework activities will be assigned. Post-training testing sessions will also be conducted.