Vocal function exercises for normal voice: The effects of varying dosage

Area of Science:

• Speech-Language Pathology
• Voice Science
• Auditory and Communication Sciences

Background:

• Vocal function exercises (VFE) are used to improve voice quality and function.
• Understanding the optimal dosage of VFE for maximum phonation time (MPT) is crucial for effective voice therapy.
• Previous research has not established a clear dosage-response curve for VFE.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of varying VFE home practice dosages on achieving MPT goals in individuals with normal voices.
• To contribute to the development of a VFE dosage-response curve.
• To explore potential toxicity associated with high-dosage VFE.

Main Methods:

• A pre-post longitudinal study involving 28 females (ages 18-25) with normal voices.
• Participants were randomly assigned to low (once daily), traditional (twice daily), or high (four times daily) VFE dosage groups for six weeks.
• MPT was measured using a semi-occluded vocal tract posture as the primary outcome.

Main Results:

• All participants showed an increase in MPT.
• Significant MPT improvements were observed in the traditional and high-dosage VFE groups.
• No adverse or toxic effects were reported for any VFE dosage.

Conclusions:

• High-dosage VFE may lead to faster MPT gains but requires careful consideration of potential increased attrition.
• Low-dosage VFE did not sufficiently improve MPT in this study.
• Further research is needed to explore VFE dosage, particularly in individuals with voice disorders.