The Effect of Vocal Intonation Therapy on Vocal Dysfunction in Patients With Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: A Randomized Control Trial

Front. Neurosci., 2022 · DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.860127 · Published: June 10, 2022

Alternative Medicine Neurology Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study investigates the use of vocal intonation therapy (VIT) to improve vocal quality in patients with cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI). VIT was compared to standard respiratory therapy. The study found that VIT significantly improved vocal quality, including loudness and sustained note length, compared to respiratory phonation therapy in CSCI patients. The results suggest that VIT, a form of music therapy, can be a practical and effective treatment for vocal dysfunction in CSCI patients, offering both functional benefits and a pleasant experience.

Study Duration

12 weeks

Participants

18 patients with vocal dysfunction after Cervical Spinal Cord Injury

Evidence Level

Level 1: Randomized Controlled Trial

Key Findings

1
Sing-SPL (Sing-Loud Pressure Level) of the intervention group at T2 (after 12 weeks) was significantly improved compared to the control group (p < 0.0001).
2
Speech-SPL (Speech-Loud Pressure Level) was significantly different between the intervention and control groups at T2 (p = 0.0029).
3
SNL (Sustained Note Length) in the intervention group showed significant improvement compared to the control group at T2 (p < 0.0001).

Research Summary

The study compared vocal intonation therapy (VIT) with respiratory phonation therapy for individuals with vocal dysfunction following cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI). Results indicated that VIT significantly improved vocal function, including loudness (Sing-SPL and Speech-SPL), sustained note length (SNL), and sound frequency (F0), compared to the control group. The study suggests that VIT can be a practical and effective treatment for improving vocal quality in CSCI patients, offering both functional benefits and a positive experience.

Practical Implications

Clinical Practice

Clinicians can integrate VIT into rehabilitation programs for CSCI patients to improve vocal function and quality of life.

Therapeutic Approach

Music therapists can use singing and vocal exercises to stimulate respiratory muscles and improve vocal control in patients with respiratory dysfunction.

Future Research

Further studies with larger sample sizes and the inclusion of quality of life measures are needed to validate the benefits of VIT for CSCI patients.

Study Limitations

1
Limited sample size due to participant dropouts.
2
Lack of a blank control group to observe self-healing effects.
3
Absence of patient-reported outcome measures like the Voice Handicap Index (VHI).

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