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Exploring the effect of laryngeal neuromuscular electrical stimulation on voice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 November 2016

M Gorham-Rowan  and
R Morris
M Gorham-Rowan*
Affiliation:
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Valdosta State University, Georgia, USA
R Morris
Affiliation:
School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Florida State University, Tallahassee, USA
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Mary Gorham-Rowan, Dept. of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Health Sciences and Business Administration Building, 1500 N. Patterson Street, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA 31698, USA E-mail: mmgorhamrowan@valdosta.edu
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Abstract

Objective:

This study was conducted to explore the potential use of neuromuscular electrical stimulation as an adjunctive treatment for muscle tension dysphonia.

Methods:

Voice data and ratings of fatigue and soreness were obtained for two experiments. Experiment one examined the vocal effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation applied to the neck for 15 minutes. Experiment two examined the recovery effect of laryngeal neuromuscular electrical stimulation following a vocal loading task among normophonic women.

Results:

No significant differences in vocal function following 15 minutes of laryngeal neuromuscular electrical stimulation were found. Six of 11 participants receiving laryngeal neuromuscular electrical stimulation exhibited improved recovery following the vocal loading task.

Conclusion:

A short session of laryngeal neuromuscular electrical stimulation may be beneficial in reducing muscle fatigue for some individuals. Further investigation is warranted to determine the applicability of laryngeal neuromuscular electrical stimulation in voice therapy.

Keywords

VoiceElectrical StimulationAcousticDysphonia
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 130 , Issue 11 , November 2016 , pp. 1022 - 1032
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2016 

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Footnotes

Portions of this paper were presented at the Voice Foundation's 39th Annual Symposium, 2–6 June 2010, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, the American Speech–Language–Hearing Association Convention, 17–19 November 2011, San Diego, California, USA, and the Acoustics 2012 Hong Kong joint meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Acoustical Society of China, Western Pacific Acoustics Conference and Hong Kong Institute of Acoustics, 14–18 May 2012, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.

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