A Study on Efficacy of Differences in Speech Therapy Duration in Vocal Outcomes of Benign Lesions of Vocal Cords After Conventional Microlaryngeal Surgery

Introduction: Benign laryngeal lesions usually disrupt the microstructure in the vocal cords causing hoarseness of voice. This study analyses the success rate of voice therapy and factors contributing to better outcomes in surgical treatment of benign vocal fold lesions. Methods: Forty consecutive patients with benign vocal cord lesions complying with the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled and divided into two groups A and B, such that one received speech therapy post surgery for 6 weeks and the other received speech therapy for 12 weeks respectively. Preoperatively all the patients were evaluated by voice fatigue index, GRBAS scale and videolaryngoscopy. Vocal fold relaxation exercises were given preoperatively for patients of both groups. After undergoing conventional microlaryngeal excision surgery, both groups of patients underwent subjective analysis by voice fatigue index, perceptual analysis by GRBAS scale and videolaryngoscopy in regular intervals. Speech therapy was started after 1 week of complete voice rest post operatively and patients were followed up at the end of 1 week, 2 months and 4 months from the date of surgery. Results: There is no statistical difference in characteristics of patients between the two groups. Improvement in the Voice fatigue index and GRBAS scale score is statistically the same in groups A and B. Conclusion: Speech therapy is an important part of voice rehabilitation following microlaryngeal surgery. The misconception that longer speech therapy duration leads to better outcomes did not hold true in this study. Speech therapy postoperatively with proper voice hygiene practices is sufficient to obtain a near normal voice.