Combination of Voice Therapy and Antireflux Therapy Rapidly Recovers Voice‐Related Symptoms in Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Patients

Abstract

Voice therapy may help to restore reversible mucosal change secondary to acidic reflux, inducing rapid resolution of symptoms and shortening of the treatment period.

Impact of laryngopharyngeal reflux on subjective and objective voice assessments: A prospective study

“…The study of Park et al showed a significant improvement of all GRBAS items after 3 months of treatment. These authors defined the significant improvement by the enhancement of ≥ 1 item(s) of the scale, which does not coincide with our statistical approach, limiting our literature comparison [39]. The low scores and the lack of significant improvement of the values of the GRBASI items could be related to a majority of mild and moderate LPR patient profiles composing our cohort.…”

“…Siupsinkiene et al also reported the interest to use VHI as an outcome of the efficacy of the PPI treatment in LPR patients [36]. At the exception of the study of Park et al, the perceptual voice quality assessments conducted in LPR studies were not blinded [13, 37–39]. The study of Park et al showed a significant improvement of all GRBAS items after 3 months of treatment.…”

Reflux and Voice Disorders: Have We Established Causality?

“…In all, there have been eight placebo-controlled trials of PPI 21–28 , one that compared PPI and lifestyle modification 29 , and one comparing PPI alone versus combined PPI and voice therapy. 30 Laryngopharyngeal reflux cases were identified using symptoms or laryngoscopic findings alone in three studies 22, 27, 29 , while the remainder used objective testing (i.e., pH probe). Voice outcomes were assessed by a variety of methods: RSI 27, 30 , non-validated voice symptom scores or diaries.…”

“…30 Laryngopharyngeal reflux cases were identified using symptoms or laryngoscopic findings alone in three studies 22, 27, 29 , while the remainder used objective testing (i.e., pH probe). Voice outcomes were assessed by a variety of methods: RSI 27, 30 , non-validated voice symptom scores or diaries. 22–26, 28, 29 , and a validated, LPR quality of life survey.…”

“…21 For five studies identified 22, 23, 25, 26, 28 , the effect size (i.e., OR) for the association between reflux and dysphonia (when present) or composite laryngeal symptom resolution was calculated using 2×2 tables. For the remaining studies 21, 24, 27, 29, 30 , odds ratio were calculated using the Cox Logit method based on the standardized mean difference and variance calculated from the summary data provided in the manuscripts. 31 …”