Improving Voice Production for Adults With Age-related Dysphonia

Improving Voice Production for Adults With Age-related Dysphonia

The objectives for this research are to determine the mechanisms by which specific therapy tasks improve voice in age-related dysphonia, and the conditions that limit the extent of improvement. The central hypothesis is that targeted therapy tasks will improve voice, and that severity will determine the extent of improvement.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults in age range who volunteer
• Can understand and complete directions presented in English
• People with voice disorder associated with advancing age will be included, including bowing, incomplete closure, mild edema, erythema, signs of laryngopharyngeal reflux.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Laryngeal differences not related to aging (e.g., vocal fold paralysis, moderate-severe edema, lesions, leukoplakia, dysplasia, Parkinson disease)
• Known history of stroke, brain injury, or other neurological disorder