EFFECTS OF THE MANUAL LARYNGEAL MUSCULOSKELETAL TENSION REDUCTION TECHNIQUE AS A TREATMENT FOR FUNCTIONAL VOICE DISORDERS - PERCEPTUAL AND ACOUSTIC MEASURES

During a 2-year period, 17 patients with ''functional dysphonia'' were assessed and managed in a hospital setting. A single treatment approa ch, known as manual laryngeal musculoskeletal tension reduction, was e mployed. The effects of the therapy regimen were analyzed using percep tual and acoustical measures of vocal function. The results indicated a significant change in the direction of ''normal'' vocal function in the majority of patients within one treatment session. Perceptual meas ures of severity were consistently more likely to be rated as normal f ollowing treatment. Acoustic measures of voice confirmed significant i mprovements in jitter, shimmer, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Resul ts are discussed in terms of the clinical utility and effectiveness of this treatment approach for functional dysphonia.