Voice Therapy Per the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System

Summary

The goal of this study is to evaluate if using evidence-based, standard ingredient and target codes from the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System - Voice Therapy (RTSS-Voice) in standard of care voice therapy documentation can improve outcomes for patients with muscle tension dysphonia (MTD). The main question it aims to answer is: Since the RTSS-Voice will help clinicians think about their treatment more specifically and in relation to nine evidence-based therapies, will its adoption be associated with improved outcomes? Clinicians across five voice centers will be asked to use the RTSS-Voice to document their voice therapy sessions for patients with MTD. Researchers will compare changes in outcomes between two groups of patients: those treated during the clinician's first year using the RTSS-Voice versus those treated during the clinician's second year using the RTSS-Voice.

Conditions

• Muscle Tension Dysphonia

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Standard of care voice therapy with expert clinician RTSS-Voice documentation

Voice therapy is individually tailored to each patient and typically includes behavioral ingredients (e.g., applying pressure to the anterior neck, practice voicing in various ways, feedback on performance, provide information on the importance of therapy concepts) to modify the patient's auditory, somatosensory, vocal, musculoskeletal, respiratory, and mental functions. During this time, the treating clinicians will have completed their RTSS-Voice training and using the RTSS-Voice in their clinical documentation.

BEHAVIORAL

Standard of care voice therapy with novice clinician RTSS-Voice documentation

Voice therapy is individually tailored to each patient and typically includes behavioral ingredients (e.g., applying pressure to the anterior neck, practice voicing in various ways, feedback on performance, provide information on the importance of therapy concepts) to modify the patient's auditory, somatosensory, vocal, musculoskeletal, respiratory, and mental functions. During this time, the treating clinicians will be trained to use the RTSS-Voice in their clinical documentation.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Emory University

  collaborator OTHER

• New York University

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Utah

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Wisconsin, Madison

  collaborator OTHER

• Massachusetts General Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jarrad Van Stan, PhD, CCC-SLP · Massachusetts General Hospital

Eligibility

Min Age

14 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-02-03

Primary Completion

2027-06-29

Completion

2027-06-29

Countries

• United States

Study Locations