What is this study about regarding voice therapy for teachers?

This study is exploring different voice therapy methods delivered via telepractice and a mobile app to help teachers with voice problems. Researchers aim to improve how voice therapy is practiced remotely and understand which therapy concepts work best for preventing and treating voice issues. The study is sponsored by West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

Who may be eligible for this voice therapy clinical trial?

Adults aged 18 years or older who are either student teachers planning spring teaching or professional teachers with voice complaints who have not sought help may be eligible. Participants must own a smartphone or tablet. This trial includes all genders. Please review eligibility criteria for more details.

Is there any cost to participate in this voice disorder clinical trial?

Study-related care, including the therapy sessions and all trial visits, is provided at no cost. However, personal travel expenses or other costs related to participation may vary and are not guaranteed to be covered.

Actively Recruiting

Phase Not Applicable

Age: 18Years +

All Genders

Healthy Volunteers

ID05220982

Enhancing Voice Therapy Effectiveness Using Telepractice and a Mobile App for Teachers

Led by West Chester University of Pennsylvania · Updated on 2024-08-28

Participants Needed

Research Sites

N/A

Total Duration

AI-Summary

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating voice therapy concepts delivered via telepractice and mobile app technology to improve voice health in teachers, a group prone to voice problems. This study evaluates four different voice therapy approaches, including a fully developed model using ecological momentary intervention EMI through an app that allows repeated practice and feedback in the participants daily environment. The study addresses gaps in asynchronous telepractice research and uses a framework to describe voice therapy concepts for prevention and treatment of voice issues among both student teachers and professional teachers with voice complaints. Participants are randomly assigned to one of four voice therapy groups delivered through weekly synchronous telepractice sessions lasting 45-60 minutes. These groups include Conversation Training Therapy, Global Voice Prevention and Therapy Model, and modified versions of each. All participants use an EMI platform consisting of an app, server, and web portal to practice voice exercises three times daily. The Global Voice Model involves training multiple new voice qualities based on voice anatomy and physiology, while the other groups vary in the use of voice concepts and training structure. The intervention extends over several weeks with scheduled practice and synchronous sessions. Participants will complete voice evaluations and surveys before and after the intervention in the fall, with weekly assessments during the 15-week spring period. Measurements include self-reported voice handicaps, vocal fatigue indexes, acoustic voice parameters, and vocal effort scales captured via the VoiceEvalU8 app. Satisfaction surveys are collected immediately after the intervention. The studys data collection and monitoring aim to assess the efficacy of voice therapy concepts and the usability of asynchronous telepractice tools, contributing to improved voice therapy methods and future applications in speech-language pathology.

CONDITIONS

Brief Title

Improving Efficacy of Voice Therapy Concepts Via Telepractice and Mobile App Technology

How This Trial Compares With Other Options

This table compares participation in this trial with other options available for this condition. The information is drawn from published research and the trial’s study details and is provided for educational purposes only.

Factors	Conversation Training Therapy	Modified Conversation Training Therapy	Global Voice Prevention and Therapy Model	Modified Global Voice Prevention and Therapy Model
What it is	Behavioral therapy for voice disorders focused on training clear speech in conversation, contrasting new and old voice techniques. Delivered through four weekly live telepractice sessions and supported by a mobile app for daily exercises.	A variation of Conversation Training Therapy that does not use the new-vs-old voice contrast. Consists of four weekly synchronous telepractice sessions plus daily app-based practice.	A comprehensive approach combining training in four types of healthy voice production (resonant, falsetto, oral twang, belt) using a recognized voice education framework. Delivered in three weekly telepractice sessions and supported by app-based home exercises.	Simplified version of the Global Voice Prevention and Therapy Model, focusing on one new healthy voice technique without the new-vs-old voice contrast. Conducted via three weekly live telepractice sessions and daily mobile-app exercises.
Role in trial	One of the active investigational arms, aiming to improve voice and reduce fatigue for teachers or student teachers.	Active investigational comparator testing a simplified therapeutic method without the new-vs-old voice focus.	Active behavioral therapy arm designed to assess a preventive and therapeutic voice program for potential use with teachers.	Active investigational comparator focused on a streamlined prevention and therapy technique without contrasting new and old voices.
Primary use	Intended for prevention and improvement of voice disorders and vocal fatigue in teachers or student teachers.	Aims to reduce voice complaints and fatigue through a streamlined clear-speech therapy, targeting educators.	Designed to prevent and address voice problems among educators using structured healthy voice training.	Focuses on preventing voice disorders by teaching one targeted healthy-voice technique to teachers and student teachers.
How it is given or performed	Delivered through four weekly synchronous telepractice sessions (45-60 minutes each), with daily home practice via mobile app three times per day.	Four weekly live telepractice sessions (45-60 minutes), plus mobile app home exercises practiced three times daily.	Three weekly synchronous telepractice sessions (45-60 minutes each), app-based practice three times daily, and asynchronous education/hygiene activities in the first week.	Three weekly telepractice sessions (45-60 minutes), with mobile app-guided exercises three times a day and asynchronous activities during week one.
Evidence status	Effectiveness of telepractice-based behavioral voice therapy for teachers is supported by emerging evidence, although most studies highlight a need for larger randomized trials and standardized protocols.	Telepractice-based behavioral interventions with simplified focus show preliminary benefit but lack large-scale published data on specific modification approaches.	Combination voice prevention and therapy models delivered by telepractice have some supportive evidence, but standardized protocols and large randomized studies are rare.	Evidence for modified, focused prevention protocols via telepractice is sparse; approach remains largely investigational.
Important limitations	No published results for this arm yet. Behavioral voice therapies vary widely in approach, and individual response may differ. Telepractice relies on technology access and engagement.	As a modified, less established protocol, less is known about its durability. Outcomes may depend strongly on participant practice consistency using the app.	Complex training structure may not suit all teachers. Broader applicability and comparative benefits across protocols are not yet established in the literature.	Research on single-technique voice training by telepractice is limited, and engagement with technology or protocol adherence may influence outcomes more than with in-person therapy.

Disclaimer: This comparison is created with the help of artificial intelligence(AI) and may contain errors or missing information. It is not medical advice and does not mean one option is better or safer than another. Clinical trials are still being studied, and joining a trial is your choice. Please consult your healthcare professional before making any decisions.

Who Can Participate

Age: 18Years +

All Genders

Healthy Volunteers

Eligibility Criteria

You may qualify if you...

Vocally healthy student in a bachelor of education program with student teaching planned for spring
Professional teacher currently working with voice complaints who has not sought treatment
Owner of an Android or iOS smartphone or tablet

You will not qualify if you...

Not a student teacher
Not a professional teacher
Does not own a smartphone

Your Study Journey

Screening

Duration - 2 to 4 weeks

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.

1 visit (in-person or remote) for eligibility assessment

Outpatient Treatment

Duration - 3 to 4 weeks

Participants undergo behavioral voice therapy training via telepractice and use a mobile app to practice voice targets multiple times daily. Depending on the assigned intervention, training occurs over three or four weekly synchronous telepractice sessions lasting 45-60 minutes each.

Weekly synchronous telepractice sessions (3 or 4 sessions depending on intervention)

Long-term Monitoring

Duration - 15 weeks

Participants complete voice and vocal fatigue assessments weekly for 15 weeks using a mobile app to monitor changes over time.

Weekly remote assessments via mobile app

Research Team

Elizabeth U Grillo, Ph.D.

How is the study designed?

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Masking

SINGLE

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Model

PARALLEL

Primary Purpose

PREVENTION

Number of Arms

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Enhancing Voice Therapy Effectiveness Using Telepractice and a Mobile App for Teachers

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AI-Summary

What this Trial Is About

Brief Title

How This Trial Compares With Other Options

Who Can Participate

Eligibility Criteria

Your Study Journey

Research Team

How is the study designed?

Similar Trials

Brain and Voice Patterns in Female Early Career Teachers Wit...

Testing Ambulatory Voice Biofeedback to Improve Therapy for ...

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this study about regarding voice therapy for teachers?

Who may be eligible for this voice therapy clinical trial?

Is there any cost to participate in this voice disorder clinical trial?

How are participants assigned to the different voice therapy groups?

What types of voice assessments will be used during this study?

What happens after this voice therapy clinical trial ends?

Can I leave this voice therapy clinical trial if I change my mind?

Not the Right Trial for You?

On this page

Sponsors

Sponsors

How This Trial Compares With Other Options

Who Can Participate

Eligibility Criteria

Your Study Journey

How is the study designed?

Similar Trials

Brain and Voice Patterns in Female Early Career Teachers Wit...

Testing Ambulatory Voice Biofeedback to Improve Therapy for ...

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this study about regarding voice therapy for teachers?

Who may be eligible for this voice therapy clinical trial?

Is there any cost to participate in this voice disorder clinical trial?

How are participants assigned to the different voice therapy groups?

What types of voice assessments will be used during this study?

What happens after this voice therapy clinical trial ends?

Can I leave this voice therapy clinical trial if I change my mind?

Sponsors