The response of four groups of vocal fold paralysis to percutaneous neuro-muscular electrical stimulation : a comparative study

Abstract EN

Objective: To compare the response of four groups of vocal fold paralysis with different etiologies to percutaneous electrical stimulation and at reanalyzing the outcome according to duration of the condition. Methods: Medical files of 60 patients referred to the Speech Clinic, Royal Rehabilitation Center during the last eight years, complaining of weak breathy voice due to vocal fold paralysis, were reviewed and classified according to etiology, gender, and duration of onset.

Patients received daily sessions of electrical stimulation, applied percutaneously, for 2-7 weeks.

The initial and follow-up phonation times and perceptual acoustic analyses were tabulated for each patient.

A separate 10-point rating scale on the clarity and loudness of the patient's voice was given by the patient, the otorhinolaryngologist, and the speech pathologist, before and after the administration of electrical stimulation.

The responses to therapy were statistically analyzed and compared according to etiology and duration of onset. Results: A paired T-test for both the phonation time and the rating of voice quality, before and after electrical stimulation, showed significant differences (p< 0.001) in all four etiologies.

Analysis of variance showed that there was no statistical difference according to etiology and, with certain limitation, according to duration of onset of the paralysis. Conclusion: The outcome and time course of recovery of vocal fold paralysis by implementing electrical stimulation are similar in different etiologies of the paralysis regardless of the duration of the condition