Complete Vocal Technique Voice Therapy for Muscle Tension Dysphonia (CVT4MTD)
United Kingdom14 participantsStarted 2022-05-05
Plain-language summary
This proof-of-concept study is designed to evaluate whether a pedagogic technique used to help performers, known as the Complete Vocal Technique (CVT), can be used to help patients with a type of voice disorder known as Muscle Tension Dysphonia (MTD). MTD is responsible for up to 40% of patients presenting with voice and throat complaints. MTD is due to inefficient or ineffective voice production resulting from an imbalance in the control of the breathing mechanism, and uncontrolled constriction of the muscles in the larynx (voice box) or vocal tract (throat space above the vocal cords). Standard treatment is Voice Therapy delivered by a specialist Speech Therapist (SLT-V) often using a video link (telepractice aka telehealth). CVT is widely used in Europe by singers and vocal coaches. Practitioners (CVT- Ps) undergo a three-year accredited training programme, and the systematic and structured approach helps healthy singers and other performers optimise the function of the voice to produce any sound required. It also helps if the performer has vocal problems, which are also mainly due to uncontrolled throat constrictions.
The purpose of this pilot study is to see if the CVT voice therapy approach (CVT-VT) can help, and offers advantages, to standard SLT-V methods in the treatment of patients with MTD. Ten adult patients will be recruited from the Voice clinic at Nottingham University Hospital. Participants will have a multidimensional assessment using questionnaires, and voice recordings and then receive up to 6 video sessions of CVT-VT delivered using a video link by a CVT-P. The participants will then be reviewed back in clinic at 8 weeks and be reassessed, using further questionnaires and analysis of the voice pre- and post-therapy recordings, to evaluate the outcome of this treatment approach. Qualitative methodology will determine whether CVT-VT offers any therapeutic advantages to existing SLT-VT treatment methods.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Clinical diagnosis of primary Muscle Tension Dysphonia (MTD) based on history and laryngoscopic assessment (Type (I-III) MTD pattern) through joint assessment by a SLT-V and laryngologist
* Current voice problems, persistent for greater than 2 months
* Severity of disorder a) Voice Handicap Index (VHI) ≥ 30 and b) patient wants therapy
* Patient willingness to undergo treatment
* Consent to participate in study protocol
Exclusion Criteria:
* Organic vocal pathology 1) Structural/neoplastic disorders (e.g. carcinoma, cyst, polyp, papilloma, Reinke's oedema); 2) neurological disorders (e.g. vocal cord palsy, paresis, spasmodic dysphonia); 3) inflammation (e.g. infection, reflux (RFS \>7) or significant relevant systemic disease (e.g. severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) or need for surgery
* Significant psychological issues identified during initial assessment (with option to withdraw if discovered during the treatment periods and agreed by both patient and Therapist)
* MTD pattern (IV-VI) compatible with significant primary psychological aetiology on laryngoscopy
* Transgender voice issues
* Previously incompletely treated dysphonia, neurological disease, or upper aerodigestive tract malignancy Had previous Voice Therapy (VT) or CVT training or pharmacological treatment for their voice problem - (other than proton pump inhibitors or an alginate recommended for disorders of laryngopharyngeal reflux-related symptoms)
* A hearing impairment that …
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.