title: [Unilateral vocal fold paralysis: quality of voice after speech therapy].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To describe demographic factors and voice quality parameters of patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) after a voice therapy protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven patients with a diagnosis of UVFP by video-laryngoscopy were included. Voice therapy was applied to all patients during 15 sessions that were structured in three progressive stages. The objective was to train patients in vocal techniques, phonic-breathing coordination,blow control, vocal exercises for glottic closure and vocal setting. Glottal closure, Voice Handicap Index-10 for perception of voice impairment and GRBAS scale were used before and after the speech therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average age was 51 years (range 20-80), 60%women. Surgery was the most frequent cause (72%), and 40% had a profession related to voice use. Median time from diagnosis to treatment was 5 months (2-12). After voice therapy, 80% had complete glottal closure, previously this had been 34% (p<0.001), the score of VHI-10 decreased from 24.24 to 16.09 points (p<0.001) and GRBAS values improved in all the qualities of voice (p<0.001).Only 8.5% of the patients required surgical intervention after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Voice therapy is effective as first line therapy in patients with UVFP, reserving medialization with non-absorbable material or thyroplasty surgery for those with a poor outcome. However, it is necessary to reduce the time it takes the patient to reach the Voice Unit after laryngoscopic diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Servicio Navarro de Salud. olivia.busto.crespo@navarra.es.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Busto Crespo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uzcanga Lacabe
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abad Marco
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Berasategui
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aguilera Albesa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fernández González
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013070:Speech Therapy; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000601:surgery; D014833:Voice Quality; D055815:Young Adult