Subjective and Objective Analyses of Voice Improvement After Phonosurgery in Professional Voice Users

To evaluate voice improvement after phonosurgery by subjective and objective voice analysis.

Prospective observational analytic group study.

This study was conducted from January 2012 to December 2013. Two hundred forty professional voice users (patients), classified as Koufman level I or II with benign vocal fold lesions, were divided in two groups. Patients in group 1 had a diagnosis of superficial vocal fold lesions, and patients in group 2 had deep lesions on the vocal folds. All patients completed the Vocal Performance Questionnaire (VPQ) and underwent acoustic voice tests using the Praat program. Subjective and objective voice analyses were performed before phonosurgery and at 1, 2, and 3 months after phonosurgery. A control group of 100 volunteers was created and underwent the same voice metrics that were applied to the patients.

Jitter, shimmer, harmonic-to-noise ratio, and VPQ scores significantly differentiated patients with vocal fold lesions from individuals in the control group. All of the analyzed parameters improved significantly after phonosurgery. Additionally, patients with superficial vocal fold lesions achieved normal voice parameters 1 month after surgery, and patients with deep lesions achieved normal voice parameters 3 months after surgery.

Analysis of vocal parameters using the VPQ and acoustic tests revealed voice improvement after phonosurgery for both patient groups.