A Study of Voice Therapy Effect by the Short Version of Vocal Function Exercise

Abstract

We successfully developed the Taguchi method as the short version of Vocal Function Exercise (VFE). The Taguchi method involves only the following training contents included in VFE: Extension of phonation time, and phonation exercise with a certain voice pitch. We applied this method to a series of voice disorder cases. Patients treated with the short version of VFE were typically in their 60s and 70s, often with vocal cord atrophy and sulcus. The number of training sessions and the training period duration were ≤6 times and ≤3 months, respectively, so treatment was completed in a shorter period of time than with the original VFE method. We also noted an improvement in the auditory impression, maximum phonation time, and Voice Handicap Index (VHI) in most cases with the short version of VFE compared to before therapy. The short version of VFE can be accomplished with a simple procedure and is expected to shorten the treatment period.