The comparison of the effectiveness of the methods of voice surgery and voice therapy for the adults with vocal cord nodules, vocal cord polyps, and vocal cord cysts

The present study aims to determine whether voice therapy is more effective than voice surgery, which are the two methods used for the adults with vocal cord nodules, vocal cord polyps, and vocal cord cysts. Forty participants were equally divided into two groups; one with voice therapy groups (VTG) and the other with voice surgery groups (VSG). The participants in VTG were treated with 6 sessions of resonant voice therapy, one for every week. The participants in VSG were treated with endolaryngeal microsurgery (EM). The measurement was carried out twice, once before and after the treatment and then, before and after the surgery. Data regarding maximum phonation time (MFT), s/z ratio, GRBAS scale, vocal handicap index (VHI), voice-related quality of life (VRQOL) was collected. The pretest-posttest intragroup data and the data between the groups were statistically compared. According to the analyses, the posttest of intragroup VTG and VSG demonstrated better results of MFT, s/z ratio, G, R, B, A, S values, VHI, and VRQOL scores. The analysis carried out between the groups showed a significant difference in terms of VT among the pretest-posttest difference scores of MFT, GRBAS values, VHI, and VRQOL, while no significant difference was found in terms of s/z ratio. As a result of voice therapy and voice surgery, it was noticed that the participants' voices got better. Voice therapy and voice surgery provide positive results. It can also be said that voice therapy is a more effective method. Keywords: Voice therapy, Voice surgery, Functional voice disorders, Resonant voice therapy, Effectiveness