Efficacy of voice therapy assessed with the Voice Range Profile (Phonetogram).

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Voice Range Profile (VRP), or Phonetography, is a widely used method of acoustic voice assessment: it explores and documents the extreme possibilities or capabilities of the voice by producing a chart displaying the intensity dynamics as a function of the fundamental frequency range. OBJECTIVES: In the present study VRP is used for investigating the efficacy of (isolated) functional voice therapy, and for defining the best suited VRP criteria for this purpose. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 30 adult voice patients with complaints of chronic dysphonia (> 4 months) fitted the acceptance--and exclusion criteria, and received functional voice therapy for 2 sessions/week during 3-6 months therapy (2x/week). VRP was performed before and after therapy, and a follow-up VRP was conducted 3 months after completion of the therapy. RESULTS: The parameters "softest intensity" and "VRP--area" seem the most sensitive parameters: they show an average highly significant improvement after therapy, and still an average significant improvement between the end of treatment and the follow-up measurement. CONCLUSION: For daily practice, an index (3 points-index) combining Fo-range and softest intensity is proposed.