Rehabilitation and Prognosis of Voice Disorders

Phoniatricians usually have the key role when dealing with a voice disorder, supported by logopedists/speech-language pathologists. Cooperation with other medical or non-medical disciplines may contribute when needed. Fundamentals, general goals and the structure of voice therapy are followed by a survey of specific methods and techniques. No matter what kind of technique is used, treatment strategy is inevitably based on pathophysiological mechanisms of a disorder and the patient’s state as a whole. Voice therapy is a dynamic process and not an application procedure for a stable phonatory pattern or a list of exercises for every patient. This integrative model for treatment of voice disorders includes additional skills and knowledge of mechanisms of applications, stages of behavioural treatment, phases of motor learning, stages of voice therapy and steps of a given technique. Functional disorders of the singing voice (dysodia) require additional and specific expertise, especially in emergency situations in the frame of cancellation policy regarding the opera and theatre business. Drug treatment and physiotherapy/osteopathy as more therapeutic approaches to voice disorders are presented, as well as phonosurgical procedures, i.e. functional surgical interventions aiming exclusively, or in part, at improvement, restoration or preservation of vocal function. Methods comprise of phonomicrosurgery (endoscopic microsurgery), laryngeal injection and laryngeal framework surgery that modify the cartilaginous framework of the larynx (laryngoplastic phonosurgery, open-neck surgery). Pacing and reinnervation are also discussed as alternatives in bilateral vocal fold palsies, and vocal rehabilitation after head and neck surgery, including the use of personalised computer speech synthesis for laryngectomised patients, is considered. Indications for tracheostomy and tracheostoma care refer to clinical practice. The prognosis of voice rehabilitation depends on the various factors that are included in voice production and should be considered accordingly.