A clinical demonstration of the application of audiovisual biofeedback in the treatment of puberphonia.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to demonstrate the effect of vocal audiovisual biofeedback in the treatment of puberphonia.


METHODS
This is a report of a single subject research study encompassing intervention and observation of results, involving three phases: baseline, treatment, and follow-up. Therefore, this study applied an A-B case study experimental design with follow-up for observation of treatment outcomes. Self-reported complementary data regarding feelings of voice usage included comparisons between pre and post intervention scores of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) survey.


RESULTS
In this study, acoustic voice parameters measured revealed changes in vocal performance in the desired direction, as demonstrated by visual inspection and estimation of effect size of the data; changes were maintained during the follow-up phase. Examination of VHI results suggested post intervention improvement in functional and psychosocial aspects related to voice use.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on the results of this study, audiovisual feedback approaches are effective in the treatment of puberphonia. Results will apply to future considerations in the application of technology support for treatment of puberphonia and other voice related disorders.
Communication Disorders and Sciences Rehabilitation Institute, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, USA. Electronic address: franca@siu.edu.
Maria Claudia
MC
Franca
Communication Disorders and Sciences Rehabilitation Institute, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, USA. Electronic address: sandie.bass.ringdahl@siu.edu.
Sandie
S
Bass-Ringdahl
D000162:Acoustics; D000293:Adolescent; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D014833:Voice Quality / Q000502:physiology*
Audiovisual feedback; Functional and psychosocial aspects voice disorders; Puberphonia