Efficacy of Voice Therapy for Functional Dysphonia

Abstract

The efficacy of voice therapy was analyzed in 49 patients who were diagnosed and treated for functional dysphonia at Kurume University Hospital between 1993 and 2013. Forty-six of the 49 patients underwent voice therapy, and their records, including age, sex, period of training, outcome of voice function, and patient background, were retrospectively reviewed.
The results indicated that functional dysphonia is frequently seen in younger patients and more in female patients than in males. By type, most patients were grouped into hyperfunctional dysphonia or hypofunctional dysphonia. Of 39 patients who finished the voice therapy, complete response was achieved in 22 (56.4%) and partial improvement was seen in 11 (28.2%). Generally, the period of treatment was short in the hypofunctional group and long in the hyperfunctional group.