Premium
Functional Electrical Stimulation for Presbyphonia: A Prospective Randomized Trial
Author(s) -
Gugatschka Markus,
Feiner Marlies,
Mayr Winfried,
GroseljStrele Andrea,
Eberhard Katharina,
Gerstenberger Claus
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.28489
Subject(s) - medicine , prospective cohort study , stimulation , randomized controlled trial , quality of life (healthcare) , audiology , physical therapy , functional electrical stimulation , anesthesia , physical medicine and rehabilitation , surgery , nursing
Objectives The aim of this prospective study was to examine the effects of transcutaneous functional electrical stimulation (FES) in a group of elderly women with presbyphonia. Study Design Prospective randomized study. Methods Fourteen participants were enrolled prospectively and attributed randomly to two different treatment groups, where one group (n = 7) received 8 weeks of training (5 days a week), whereas the other group (n = 7) received 4 weeks of ineffective stimulation, followed by 4 weeks of effective training. Stimulation protocols were established during baseline examination and confirmed with endoscopy to ensure a glottal reaction. Numerous acoustical, vocal, patient‐centered, and respiratory parameters were obtained at several time points. Results Neither 4 weeks nor 8 weeks of functional electrical transcutaneous stimulation led to changes of vocal, acoustical, or respiratory parameters, apart from patient‐centered items (Voice Handicap Index 12, Voice‐Related Quality of Life), which improved over time. However, there were no differences between the two arms for both items. Conclusions Transcutaneous FES over 4 weeks and 8 weeks did not lead to significantly improved objective voice and acoustical parameters, which could be caused by the fact that the muscles of interest cannot be targeted specifically enough. However, we found a significant improvement of subjective voice perception and voice‐related quality of life in both groups. We explain this finding with an observer‐expectancy effect secondary to the very time‐consuming and elaborate study procedures. Level of Evidence 1b Laryngoscope , 130:E662–E666, 2020