Functional Electrical Stimulation for Presbyphonia: A Prospective Randomized Trial

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this prospective study was to examine the effects of transcutaneous functional electrical stimulation (FES) in a group of elderly women with presbyphonia. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective randomized study. METHODS: Fourteen participants were enrolled prospectively and attributed randomly to two different treatment groups, where one group (n = 7) received 8 weeks of training (5 days a week), whereas the other group (n = 7) received 4 weeks of ineffective stimulation, followed by 4 weeks of effective training. Stimulation protocols were established during baseline examination and confirmed with endoscopy to ensure a glottal reaction. Numerous acoustical, vocal, patient‐centered, and respiratory parameters were obtained at several time points. RESULTS: Neither 4 weeks nor 8 weeks of functional electrical transcutaneous stimulation led to changes of vocal, acoustical, or respiratory parameters, apart from patient‐centered items (Voice Handicap Index 12, Voice‐Related Quality of Life), which improved over time. However, there were no differences between the two arms for both items. CONCLUSIONS: Transcutaneous FES over 4 weeks and 8 weeks did not lead to significantly improved objective voice and acoustical parameters, which could be caused by the fact that the muscles of interest cannot be targeted specifically enough. However, we found a significant improvement of subjective voice perception and voice‐related quality of life in both groups. We explain this finding with an observer‐expectancy effect secondary to the very time‐consuming and elaborate study procedures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1b Laryngoscope, 130:E662–E666, 2020