Efficacy of voice therapy in the treatment of mutational falsetto

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of voice therapy in patients with mutational falsetto with objective and subjective methods. Patients and Methods: In this retrospective study, 18 male patients (mean age: 17.2±3.7 years; range, 14 to 26 years) diagnosed with mutational falsetto underwent acoustical analysis between May 2020 and January 2023 using Praat software. For objective acoustic analyses, fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, and maximum phonation time parameters were used. For subjective analyses, the GRBAS (Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenia and Strain) scale and the voice handicap index were used. Pre- and post-voice therapy subjective and objective parameters were compared. Results: The mean pre-voice therapy fundamental frequency value of the patients was 183.63±22.18 Hz, while the post-therapy value was 125.03±15.52 Hz. The mean pre-voice therapy voice handicap index score of the patients was 30.33±3.67, whereas the post-therapy score was 9.77±2.48. While the GRBAS scale value of the patients was 7.38±1.24, post therapy score was 1.55±1.29. As a result of the comparison of the objective and subjective values before and after the therapy, a statistically significant difference was found (p<0.001). Conclusion: Mutational falsetto can be treated with the use of inexpensive sound analysis programs that do not require special hardware in clinical practice and with sound therapy methods.