Can Phonotherapy Serve as an Adjunct Treatment for Acute and Chronic Stroke? A Preliminary Report

Stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and long-term disability worldwide. This study evaluated the feasibility, safety, and preliminary clinical effects of phonotherapy (PHT) as an adjunct to standard care in patients with acute ischemic stroke. This prospective observational study enrolled 140 patients, who were assigned to receive either phonotherapy in addition to standard care (PHT group, n = 70) or standard care alone (control group, n = 70). Phonotherapy consisted of twice-daily 528 Hz sound stimulation administered for 3 months. Neurological (NIHSS), functional (mRS), and cognitive (MoCA) outcomes were assessed at days 10 and 90. At day 10, patients receiving PHT showed significantly better neurological, functional, and cognitive outcomes compared to the controls. However, these differences were not sustained at 90 days. Phonotherapy was not an independent predictor of favorable functional outcome at 90 days. Recurrent stroke occurred in three patients (4.3%) in the PHT group and nine (12.9%) in the control group (p = 0.07). No intervention-related adverse events were observed. Phonotherapy appears to be a safe adjunct intervention in acute ischemic stroke and may be associated with short-term improvements in selected outcomes. Overall, phonotherapy appeared safe as an adjunctive intervention in patients with acute ischemic stroke and showed possible short-term associations with improvements in selected outcomes, although these preliminary findings require confirmation in randomized controlled trials.