Therapeutic effect of acid-suppressing therapy combined with voice therapy in patients with voice-related symptoms caused by laryngopharyngeal reflux

Abstract

Objective:Patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux frequently experience voice-related symptoms. This was a prospective study that designed to investigate the effectiveness of combined voice and medical therapy in comparison with medical therapy alone in the improvement of voice-related symptoms and parameters in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux. Method: In this prospective study, total of 71 patients diagnosed with laryngopharyngeal reflux with voice symptoms were randomly divided into 2 groups (A and B). Thirty-five patients in group A were treated with medication alone, and 36 patients in group B were treated with medication plus voice therapy. The following data were recorded before treatment and at the end of treatment and 1, 2 months posttreatment: reflux symptom index(RSI), reflux finding score (RFS), voice handicap index(VHI), and change in grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, and strain scale (GRBAS) were analysised. The Electronic laryngoscopywere performed to assess efficacy. The numbers of patients showing clinically significant reductions in these parameters were compared between groups. Result:Significantly more patients in the B group showed a clinically significant change in RSI, VHI, and GRBAS score at the end time, 1-, and 2-month follow-up evaluations. No clinically significant change in RFS was achieved in either group at the end time or 1 month, but a significantly greater change was achieved in the study group at 2 months. Conclusion:Voice therapy may help to restore reversible mucosal change secondary to acidic reflux, inducing rapid resolution of symptoms and shortening of the treatment period.