UNILATERAL RECURRENT LARYNGEAL NERVE PARALYSIS - THE IMPORTANCE OF PREOPERATIVE VOICE THERAPY

This preliminary retrospective study of 19 female patients and 22 male patients with unilateral recurrent nerve lesions demonstrated the pro mise of objective measurements in predicting the need for surgery, the efficacy of voice therapy in ameliorating vocal symptoms, and the eff ects of therapy in conjunction with surgery. Sixty-eight percent (68%) of the female patients and 64% of the male patients did not elect to have surgery. Outcome satisfaction of nonsurgical and surgical patient s appeared to be similar. The data from this study support the importa nce of preoperative therapy for patients with unilateral vocal fold pa ralysis.