RESUMO

Objective: to compare the immediate effects of low-frequency TENS employment on vocal quality in women with behavioral dysphonia before and after vocal exercises.Methodology: 30 women (mean = 31.3 years old), diagnosed with behavioral dysphonia received low-frequency TENS before (TENS + VE Group) and after vocal exercises (VE + TENS Group) with a 1-week washout. They had their sustained vowel/a/and running speech recorded before and after each procedure for auditory-perceptual analysis and acoustic measures. The low-frequency TENS parameters applied were symmetrical biphasic quadratic pulse, 200 µs phase, 10 Hz frequency, intensity on the motor threshold, and the electrodes were positioned on the submandibular and superior fibers of the trapezius muscle region. The vocal exercises: tongue trill, humming, finger kazoo, and water resistance therapy were performed totalizing 20 min.Results: intragroup analysis of sustained vowel/a/showed reduction in both groups of strain parameter and increased the breathiness; only VE + TENS Group increased the instability parameter, decreased fundamental frequency, and increased in SPI values; the running speech analysis showed an increase in the overall degree, roughness, and breathiness parameters. However, in VE + TENS Group, there was a statistically significant decrease in the intensity of the strain and an increase in breathiness. The acoustic measures showed that VE + TENS Group had a higher variation than TENS + VE Group regarding NHR.Conclusion: vocal exercises followed by low-frequency TENS have more immediate positive effects on voice quality than the low-frequency TENS followed by vocal exercises. This is a preliminary immediate effects study, and these effects could be verified through long-term assessments.

RESUMO

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to analyze and compare the effects of the voiced high-frequency oscillation (VHFO) and Lax Vox techniques in different performance times. The secondary objective was to determine if there were any differences between the exercises in men and women. METHODS: Thirty volunteers (15 male, 15 female) without vocal complaints or any history of dysphonia participated in this study. The volunteers performed the VHFO and the Lax Vox techniques with a week washout, and the performance times were 1- and 3-minute long with a 15-minute interval. They answered two questionnaires on vocal and laryngopharyngeal symptoms intensity self-assessment and had acoustic measurements (cepstral peak prominence-smoothed - CPPs - , alpha ratio, and L1-L0) obtained, before 1 minute (M0), after 1 minute (M1), and after 3 minutes (M3). They had their sustained vowel /a/ and number counting 1-10 recorded. Data were analyzed by using the repeated measures ANOVA (P < 0.05) and the post hoc Tukey's test. RESULTS: For vowel /a/, men had higher CPPs and lower alpha ratio values. For number counting, men had lower CPPs values, and for both genders there was an improvement after M1, which remained at M3. For the low-pitched voice symptom, men showed a decrease after M1, regardless of the exercise. Men had better results after VHFO, while women had better results after the Lax Vox technique for the tightness symptom. Regardless of exercise or gender, there was a decrease in tickling and irritated throat after M1, but at M3 their intensity tended to increase. The lump in the throat symptom decreased at M1 and remained at the same intensity at M3 regardless of exercise or gender. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to be aware of the voice effects and the patient reports when requesting 3 minutes of both exercises. Thus, the conclusion is that the best performance time is 1 minute. For most outcomes, there was no difference between exercises and participants' genders. However, for the low-pitched voice symptom, men benefited more from both exercises, and for tightness, men benefited more from VHFO; in contrast, women benefited more from the Lax Vox technique. Therefore, such gender differences should be considered when choosing these exercises.

Assuntos

Disfonia , Voz , Feminino , Voluntários Saudáveis , Humanos , Masculino , Acústica da Fala , Qualidade da Voz , Treinamento da Voz

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: To verify safety and compare the immediate effects of voiced high-frequency oscillation (VHFO) using two types of breathing devices on self-perception and vocal quality according to performance time in vocally healthy individuals. METHOD: Thirty individuals (15 women and 15 men) without vocal complaints or any history of dysphonia participated. Each participant performed the VHFO technique with the New Shaker and Shaker Plus devices for 3 (T3), 5 (T5), and 7 minutes (T7). All answered a questionnaire that investigated the intensity of laryngopharyngeal and vocal symptoms before and after performing the VHFO with each device and at different times. After VHFO, at each time, the voice was recorded for further analysis of vocal quality. The participants also answered a self-assessment questionnaire about vocal, laryngeal, breathing, and articulatory sensations. RESULTS: T3 showed a decrease in the laryngopharyngeal symptoms "pain when swallowing," "secretion in the throat," and "phlegm" for both genders and both devices. T7 showed an increase in "dry throat" for both genders and both devices. There was an increase in the symptom "fatigue when speaking" in T3 for both genders after VHFO with the New Shaker device. We also observed a decrease in the symptoms "voice failure" and "dry cough" after VHFO with the Shaker Plus for men in T3, and "voice failure" after VHFO with the New Shaker for women in T5. We found a decrease in the acoustic parameter shimmer for women in T5 and the NHR parameter in T7 for both genders, regardless of the breathing device. There were no changes in the auditory-perceptual analysis of the voice and self-assessment of sensations after VHFO with both devices and for both genders. CONCLUSION: VHFO performed with New Shaker and Shaker Plus is safe and can be used in clinical vocal practice in vocally healthy individuals.