People over 55 years are high-risk with voice disorders. Voice disordered elderly need vocal training in order to improve communication efficiency and quality of life. However, participation in vocal training of elderly is often restricted by motivation, time of practice, and availability to hospital, which thus reduces treatment effects. The purpose of the study is to design a telecommunication vocal training system and a vocal training program for voice disordered elderly in Taiwan. The investigator proposed a 3-year consecutive study, including a single-blind, randomized controlled trial, to test the hypothesis that vocal training via telepractice for voice disordered elderly are not inferior to the standard face to face training.
Randomization: per mutated block, 40 patients on each arms (experimental and control) Allocation: sealed envelope indicating either of the 2 groups Intervention: weekly vocal training, each course last for 30-40 minutes,lasting for 2 months Outcome measurement: before treatment, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after treatment Primary outcome: 10-item voice handicap index Secondary outcome: acoustics and aerodynamic parameter
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
69
Vocal Training Via Telepractice, delivered by integrated communication service
Vocal Training Via face-to face practice at medical facilities
Change from Baseline of 10-item voice handicap index at 2 months
min: 0(best); Max: 40(worst);
Time frame: before treatment (after signing informed consent, prior to randomization) and within 2 weeks after the completion of voice therapy
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