Non-surgical Treatments of Vocal Fold Nodules: A Systematic Review

Background and Objectives:There are many approaches for treating Vocal Fold Nodules (VFNs) in voice therapy. These approaches include vocal hygiene and patients’ education, relaxation exercises, direct facilitation, respiratory exercises, and so on. Meanwhile, there is a lack of a thorough review in the literature on the voice therapy approaches used for treating VFNs. Accordingly, and more specifically, the present systematic review was conducted to investigate the non-surgical treatments of VFNs.The aim of the present systematic review was to investigate the non-surgical treatments of Vocal Fold Nodules (VFNs).Search Method:The following electronic databases were searched from inception until August 2016: PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Ovid, ISI (Web of Sciences), Cochrane, PsychINFO, CENTRAL, and Google Scholar. Reference lists of included articles were evaluated for additional data.PRISMA guidelines were used in conducting and reporting of the review. The methodological quality of the articles included was evaluated using the PEDro-P scale.Due to the heterogeneity of the studies, a narrative synthesis of the evidence was performed to summarize the evidence.Findings:Out of 2099 records identified, 21 articles met the inclusion criteria and thus were included in the review.The studies investigated in the present review were different in terms of study design, participant characteristics, types of assessments and treatments, and treatment delivery. However, the treatments of all the studies were effective in treating VFNs.Conclusions:Non-surgical treatments of VFNs were found to be successful in improving vocal quality, decreasing VFNs sizes,andresolving these nodules. Yet, further studies using higher level of evidence and long-term follow-up evaluations are required to make stronger claims.

کلیدواژه ها:

Vocal fold nodules ، Treatment ، Non-surgical