EFFECTS OF VOICE THERAPY ON ACOUSTIC VOICE PARAMETERS IN CHILDREN WITH VOCAL FOLD NODULES

Vocal fold nodules (VFNs) are the main cause of paediatricdysphonia. Voice therapy is regarded as the preferred treatment approach for VFNs in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate voice characteristics before and after voice therapy using acoustic analysis. Thirty female patients with VFNs were enrolled in this study. Each patient underwent voice therapy conducted by an experienced voice therapist twice a week. Acoustic voice assessments were performed before and after the therapeutic intervention. Acoustic analyses were performed using computerized acoustic voice analysis. Post-therapy findings demonstrated a consistent and statistically significant improvement across multiple acoustic parameters. Significant reductions were observed in jitter and shimmer measures, as well as in noise-related acoustic parameters such as the noise-to-harmonics ratio, suggesting improved stability and efficiency of vocal fold vibration. Fundamental frequency showed a slight decrease following therapy. Overall, these findings indicate a more stable, less perturbed, and acoustically improved voice signal after intervention. The findings of this study suggest the effectiveness of voice therapy in improving acoustic voice parameters in children with VFNs. The observed improvements highlight the importance of early and structured behavioral intervention in pediatric dysphonia and reinforce the role of acoustic analysis as a valuable tool for objective assessment of therapeutic outcomes. Keywords: vocal fold nodules, dysphonia, voice therapy, acoustic analysis.