Singing voice outcomes following singing voice therapy

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Vocal Pedagogy

Background:

• Singing voice disorders affect professional and amateur singers.
• Singing voice therapy (SVT) is a specialized intervention, but outcome data in disordered populations are limited.
• Understanding patient characteristics and therapy effectiveness is crucial for optimizing care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe singing voice therapy (SVT) protocols.
• To characterize patients referred for SVT.
• To document the treatment outcomes of SVT using the Singing Voice Handicap Index (SVHI-10).

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 51 patients undergoing SVT between June 2008 and June 2013.
• Data collected included demographics, number of SVT sessions, and symptom severity via SVHI-10.
• Outcomes analyzed by diagnosis (e.g., muscle tension dysphonia, vocal fold lesions) and prior training.

Main Results:

• SVT resulted in a significant decrease in SVHI-10 scores (40% reduction, P < .001).
• 18% of patients achieved normal SVHI-10 scores post-therapy.
• Average SVT duration was short (3 sessions); outcomes were similar for muscle tension dysphonia and vocal fold lesions.

Conclusions:

• This study provides the first outcome data for SVT in a disordered singing voice population.
• SVT is an effective, brief intervention for singing voice disorders, irrespective of specific diagnosis.
• Collaboration between voice care providers and singing voice therapists is recommended for optimal patient management.