Investigation of the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in intervention in adult individuals with functional voice disorders

This study examined the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in interventions performed on individuals with functional voice disorders using either voice therapy alone or voice therapy combined with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. The voice was analyzed using acoustic, auditory perceptual, aerodynamic, and self-assessment methods. The 16 participants in the study received therapy once a week for 6 weeks. Both groups received vocal hygiene, breathing exercises, laryngeal manual therapy, yawn-sigh exercises, and straw phonation exercises. Additionally, one group received transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Data were collected from the participants three times: before, after, and at follow-up for aerodynamic, acoustic, auditory perceptual, and self-assessment. The collected data were compared statistically within and between groups. The addition of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to standard voice therapy for muscle tension dysphonia has positive effects on symptoms of tension and pain in the laryngeal and perylaryngeal muscles, self-assessment, and the aerodynamic and auditory perceptual analysis of the voice. Incorporating transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation into routine therapy programs results in improved therapeutic outcomes.