Nonmedical Treatment (Voice Therapy) for Vocal Nodules in Children.
Voice disorders due to vocal nodules have been a major cause of voice problems in school-aged children. Several behaviors such as excessive speaking, shouting too loudly, yelling may contribute to voice disorders due to vocal nodules, vocal polyps, vocal cysts, etc.
Hoarseness due to vocal nodules may have an impact on their overall communication, social and educational development. Many treatment approaches exist which attempt to treat vocal nodules and hoarseness related to it such as surgery (medical treatment), voice therapy (nonmedical), vocal hygiene, etc.
Even after the surgical treatment voice therapy plays a crucial role for further prevention and care for reoccurring of vocal nodules. Voice therapy holds a significant role in the treatment of vocal nodules.
This mini-review attempts to summarize studies on the efficacy of voice therapy for vocal nodules especially in school-aged children.
A literature search was conducted using an electronic database such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and Google for the keywords
“voice therapy” in “school aged children”. The results from the literature studies were summarized in a narrative manner.
Existing findings from the literature review and the present review support the efficacy of voice therapy as a treatment option for vocal nodules.
Treatment of voice disorders in children is one of the most challenging and difficult concerns for professionals. Voice disorders affect the overall development of the child in terms of oral communication and educational participation.
No one fixed voice therapy technique that can be generalized for all children and its time period/sessions. Several key factors
play an important role in case of children learning these techniques such as child learning behaviors, environment, and parental
participation, etc.
Otolaryngol Open J. 2019; 5(1): 1-4. doi: 10.17140/OTLOJ-5-150
