Background and Objective: Comprehensive Voice Habilitation Program [CVHP]1 is a structured, and systematic eclectic voice therapy approach combining direct and indirect therapy techniques for hyperfunctional voice disorders. This study compared multidimensional outcomes of CVHP and Vocal Function Exercise [VFE] using normative range cut-off values.
Methods / Design: Sixty participants with hyperfunctional voice disorder were randomly assigned to two therapy programs: Group I (30 in CVHP) and Group II (30 in VFE) for twice a week 30 minutes sessions for a period of six weeks. Normative data from literature for each of the parameter of interest – Videostroboscopy, acoustic analysis, perceptual measures, self-reported vocal symptoms, subjective self-percept measures and those matched for the population, instrumentation and lab setup were used to compare pre- and post-therapy outcomes. Chi-square test was performed to compare significant differences in outcomes between the groups.
Results: Normative values were set as targets of therapy in both the groups, and most participants attained them post-therapy in several parameters. The number of participants reaching the normative range post-therapy was greater in eclectic approach for complete recovery of lesion, cepstral measures (CPPv- [X2 (1, N=53)=8.3,p=0.00]; CPPSv- [X2 (1, N=53)=4.3,p=0.04]), harmonics-to-noise ratio, dysphonia severity index, dynamic range in speaking voice, frequency related measures, perceptual measures of voice – overall grade [X2 (1, N=53) = 5.0,p=0.02], asthenia (A) (p=0.03) [X2 (1, N=40)= 4.6,p=0.03] and strain (S) [X2 (1, N=40)= 6.7,p=0.01], reduction in self-reported symptoms, and all domains of voice disorder outcome profile (V-DOP), and Vocal fatigue index (VFI-T) (factor I- [X2 (1, N=53)=4.24,p=0.04]; factor III-[X2 (1, N=53)=5.44,p=0.02]). For intensity related parameters, the numbers were almost similar in both the groups.
Conclusions: CVHP was found beneficial to treat hyperfunctional voice disorders. However, assessing long-term outcomes will be of interest in future.

1. Boominathan P, Mahalingam S, Arunachalam R, Venkatesh L. An eclectic voice therapy program for the treatment of hyperfunctional voice disorders (HFVD). Journal of Voice. 2023 Nov 1;37(6):969-e1.