Long-Term Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Voice Therapy in Individuals With Benign Vocal Fold Lesions and Primary Muscle Tension Dysphonia.

OBJECTIVES

This study investigated long-term patient-reported outcomes following voice therapy in adults with benign vocal fold lesions (BVFLs) and primary muscle tension dysphonia (PMTD).

METHODS

This retrospective cross-sectional study included 64 adults who completed voice therapy between 2021 and 2023. Participants were assessed after a mean follow-up of 46.98 months (SD = 7.95; range, 33-64 months) using the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10), the expanded Turkish adaptation of the Patient Perception of Voice Therapy (PPVT) questionnaire, and a demographic questionnaire. Nonparametric analyses were used to examine associations between patient-reported outcomes and time since treatment.

RESULTS

Participants reported positive long-term outcomes. The mean VHI-10 score was 12.06 (SD = 8.81). Lower voice-related handicap was associated with greater perceived treatment benefit (ρ = -0.408, P < 0.01) and greater perceived improvement (ρ = -0.512, P < 0.01). Time since treatment was not significantly associated with any patient-reported outcome measure. Most participants (60.9%) reported significant or major improvement, considered voice therapy beneficial, were able to meet their daily communication demands, and did not require additional evaluation or treatment. Although symptom recurrence was common, symptoms were typically intermittent rather than persistent. Patient-reported outcomes did not differ significantly across the vocal nodule, PMTD, and other BVFL/mixed diagnoses groups.

CONCLUSION

The benefits of voice therapy perceived by patients with BVFLs and PMTD appear to persist for several years after treatment. Long-term outcome is reflected not only in symptom burden, but also in preserved functional voice use and patients' perceptions of recovery. Taken together, these findings support a multidimensional, patient-centered approach to evaluating the durability of voice therapy outcomes.