Factors impacting therapy duration in children and adolescents with Paradoxical Vocal Fold Movement (PVFM)

Paradoxical Vocal Fold Movement (PVFM) may cause airway restriction and resulting dyspnea in the pediatric population. Therapy with a speech-language pathologist (SLP) is the primary treatment for children and adolescents diagnosed with Paradoxical Vocal Fold Movement (PVFM). This study examined treatment duration and factors predicting number of therapy sessions required.

Data were drawn from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Voice and Swallow Clinics Outcome Database. One hundred and twelve children and adolescents were included in this study. Participants were diagnosed with PVFM, followed for therapy with a SLP, and were subsequently discharged from therapy with successful outcomes. Extracted data included number of therapy sessions, PVFM symptoms, patient demographics, medical history, and comorbid diagnoses. Regression was used to determine factors predicting therapy duration.

Patients completed an average of 3.4 therapy sessions before discharge. Comorbid behavioral health diagnosis (β = 1.96, t = 3.83, p < .01) and a history of upper airway surgeries (β = 1.26, t = 2.615, p = .01) were significant predictors of the number of therapy sessions required before discharge; both factors significantly increased therapy duration. Age, symptom trigger-type, reflux symptoms, and dysphonia did not predict therapy duration. Overall, our regression model accounted for 42% of the variance in number of sessions required (r² = 0.42).

On average, 3.4 sessions of therapy with an SLP resolved PVFM symptoms. Children with a behavioral health diagnosis required an average of 5.45 sessions and those with a history of upper airway surgery an average of 4.3 sessions. Future work should examine the relationship between behavioral health care and PVFM treatment, as well as how PVFM treatment efficiency can be maximized.