Effectiveness of smartphone-based televoice therapy for individuals with hyper-functional voice disorders: a pilot study

Background: Teletherapy has gained prominence as a service delivery model for managing voice disorders, yet limited research has explored the utility of smartphone-based free platforms for teletherapy. Hence, the present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of teletherapy using smartphones on the vocal parameters of individuals with hyper-functional voice disorders. Method: Nine participants (3 males, 6 females) diagnosed with vocal nodules or muscle tension dysphonia underwent 16 therapy sessions, including eight live teletherapy sessions via smartphone and eight self-practice sessions. Before starting teletherapy, all participants received personalized vocal hygiene counseling. The effectiveness of teletherapy was measured using acoustic, aerodynamic, and perceptual evaluations alongside a teletherapy satisfaction questionnaire. Results: Post teletherapy, significant positive effects were observed for shimmer (Z = 2.310, p = 0.021), noise-to-harmonic ratios (Z = 2.117, p = 0.034), maximum phonation duration [vowels /a/ (/Z/ = 2.680) (p = 0.007), /i/ (/Z/ = 2.243) (p = 0.025), and /u/ (/Z/ = 2.524) (p = 0.012)] and the overall grade, roughness, and strain of the GRBAS scale measured during phonation and conversational tasks. There was a favorable satisfaction and perception regarding teletherapy as an alternative method of service delivery to the participants, with all participants agreeing to be comfortable with teletherapy. Conclusion: Smartphone-based teletherapy is effective in reducing dysphonia severity in patients with hyper-functional disorders. This approach offers a promising, accessible alternative to conventional therapy methods.