Abstract:

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine voice characteristics by perceptual assessment of voices of patients with vocal cord paralysis before and after vocal rehabilitation. Materials and Methods: 80 subjects participated in the study, of which 40 belonged to the experimental group and 40 to the control group. A subjective assessment of the voice using the GRBAS scale was performed. This instrument assesses the quality of the voice, that is, it determines the degree and severity of the disorder. Measures of central tendency, measures of variability, one-factor analysis of variance, t-test for independent samples, chi-square test and interclass correlation coefficient were applied in statistical data processing. Results: Before vocal rehabilitation, severe (S) and moderate (G, R, B and A) voice changes were present in patients with vocal cord paralysis. After the vocal rehabilitation was completed, there was an improvement in voice quality on all subscales, i.e. in moderate (G, R, B and A) there was a noticeable absence of changes in the voice and in severe (S) there was a slight change in the voice. Conclusion: Vocal rehabilitation aims to improve glottic occlusion without causing hyperkinesia, which is assisted by the abdominal breathing technique and improving the function of the internal muscles of the larynx. Vocal therapy is an indispensable part of the treatment of patients with paralysis of the vocal cords, and very often it is sufficient for a complete cure.

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