The study compares two different approaches of voice therapy. Vocal Functional Exercises (Stemple,1997) and Voice Amplification using a portable amplifier (Tsi Supervoz II - Tecnisystem do Brasil TSI 1210).
Both approaches combined with Vocal Hygiene Program (Behlau, 2007).The target population are female teachers because they have the highest risk for developing voice problems. For this study the investigators are primarily interested in seeing if Vocal Functional Exercises and Voice Amplification are equally effective at improving vocal functioning in teachers with voice disorders. The Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation will be done before randomization. All the participants will complete before and after a 6-week treatment phase (a) Voice Activity and Participation Profile (PPAV), an instrument designed to appraise the self-perceived psychosocial consequences of voice disorders to assess the impact of voice disorders on daily activities (b) Audio voice recording for later acoustic analysis, through the Kay Elemetrics Multi Dimensional Voice Program (c) Audio recording for later perceptual analysis through Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE\_V). It is believed that the search for evidence in clinical studies like this can contribute to awareness programs and vocal training for teachers.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
162
Behavioral: Voice Amplification. Patients use VA over a course of 6 weeks Control group. No treatment over a course of 6 weeks.
Function Voice Exercises Patients will receive 6 sessions of therapy over a course of 6 weeks, with one session per week.
Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo
São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation
Time frame: One year
Score(CAPE_V); score(PPAV); score on acoustic analysis
Time frame: One year
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