Evidence for Vocal Function Exercises in People With Presbylaryngeus

Thursday, 5:15pm
Exhibit Hall 1AB
Poster 09
The last two decades have seen increasing numbers of older people seeking treatment for voice problems, most likely due to the effects of normal physiological aging on the voice, maladaptive compensatory behaviors, and medical conditions that are more prevalent in the aging population. Normal physiologic changes that occur during aging include a decrease in muscle fiber in the larynx, stiffening of the vocal fold cover, and calcification of the laryngeal cartilages, which may result in presbylaryngeus or "aging larynx." Vocal function exercises (VFEs) aim to strengthen and rebalance the three subsystems used in voice production: respiration, phonation, and resonance. This critically appraised topic examines the use of vocal function exercises in the management of presbylaryngeus. There is moderate level evidence to support the use of vocal function exercises in behavioral intervention for presbylaryngeus in order to improve voice quality. However, more research is needed to draw more definitive conclusions and identify the specific individuals for whom this method is most effective.
Track: 
Poster