Efecto terapéutico de los ejercicios con tracto vocal semiocluido en pacientes con disfonía músculo tensional tipo i

Phonation with semi-occluded postures of the vocal tract and phonation into resonance tubes are widely used in voice therapy and voice training. These techniques increase the source/filter interaction and produce several physiologic and acoustic effects such as an increase in the inertive reactance of the vocal tract in the 200-1000 Hz range and thereby reinforce vocal fold vibration. Eleven acting students of both sexes diagnosed with type I muscle tension dysphonia were treated with a sequence of semi-occluded vocal tract exercises over six sessions. This sequence included a prolonged bilabial consonant/ß:/and artificial lengthening of the vocal tract using resonance tubes. The phonatory tasks consisted of a sustained phonation in a comfortable pitch, and ascending/descending pitch glides. Voice samples were recorded before and after six sessions of voice therapy. Flexible laryngoscopy and spectral analysis using a spectrogram with a narrow filter at real time were used for analysis. Spectrograms were evaluated by five blinded judges on a 100 mm visual analogue scale. Two time points were compared and a statistical analysis was performed. Significant positive changes were observed by spectral analysis evaluation and laryngeal muscle pattern changes. The results indicate that the use of resonance tubes and semi-occluded postures of the vocal tract can have a therapeutic effect in patients with type I muscle tension dysphonia.