Tanner K, Nissen SL, Merrill RM, Miner A, Channell RW, Miller KL, Elstad M, Kendall KA, Roy N. Nebulized isotonic saline improves voice production in Sjögren's syndrome.
Laryngoscope 2015;
125:2333-40. [PMID:
25781583 DOI:
10.1002/lary.25239]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 01/12/2015] [Accepted: 02/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the effects of a topical vocal fold hydration treatment on voice production over time.
STUDY DESIGN
Prospective, longitudinal, within-subjects A (baseline), B (treatment), A (withdrawal/reversal), B (treatment) experimental design.
METHODS
Eight individuals with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), an autoimmune disease causing laryngeal dryness, completed an 8-week A-B-A-B experiment. Participants performed twice-daily audio recordings of connected speech and sustained vowels and then rated vocal effort, mouth dryness, and throat dryness. Two-week treatment phases introduced twice-daily 9-mL doses of nebulized isotonic saline (0.9% Na(+)Cl(-)). Voice handicap and patient-based measures of SS disease severity were collected before and after each 2-week phase. Connected speech and sustained vowels were analyzed using the Cepstral Spectral Index of Dysphonia (CSID). Acoustic and patient-based ratings during each baseline and treatment phase were analyzed and compared.
RESULTS
Baseline CSID and patient-based ratings were in the mild-to-moderate range. CSID measures of voice severity improved by approximately 20% with nebulized saline treatment and worsened during treatment withdrawal. Posttreatment CSID values fell within the normal-to-mild range. Similar patterns were observed in patient-based ratings of vocal effort and dryness. CSID values and patient-based ratings correlated significantly (P < .05).
CONCLUSION
Nebulized isotonic saline improves voice production based on acoustic and patient-based ratings of voice severity. Future work should optimize topical vocal fold hydration treatment formulations, dose, and delivery methodologies for various patient populations. This study lays the groundwork for future topical vocal fold hydration treatment development to manage and possibly prevent dehydration-related voice disorders.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
2b.
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