Effects of an 8-Week Mindfulness Course in People With Voice Disorders.

An 8-week mindfulness course increased mindfulness and reduced perceived stress, vocal handicap, and singing voice handicap in people with voice disorders, compared to a waitlist control group. Among 69 participants (39 in the mindfulness course, 30 on a waitlist), those who completed the course showed significant improvements on standardized scales: mindfulness scores rose, while perceived stress, voice handicap, and singing voice handicap fell. Follow-up interviews indicated greater acceptance of the voice disorder, reduced physical tension and pain, improved body awareness, a sense of community, and positive changes in speaking and singing voice. The findings suggest mindfulness training may benefit stress reduction and quality of life for people with voice disorders.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Nearly every modern textbook on the etiology and treatment of voice disorders (VD) recommends stress reduction for VD patients. The benefits of mindfulness for stress reduction are well documented, but published literature on mindfulness and VD is sparse. Our objective was to determine whether an 8-week mindfulness course could increase mindfulness and lower stress in people with VD, leading to a decrease in vocal handicap. Mixed methods study. Participants: 69 individuals with VD: 39 were mindfulness course participants (MCP), 30 were in a waitlist control group (WCG). Exclusionary criteria: patients in voice therapy. Before and after the 8-week timeframe, participants took the Mindful Attention and Awareness Scale (MAAS), Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), Voice Handicap Index (VHI), and-for singers (n = 36)-the Singing Voice Handicap Index (SVHI). Follow-up interviews were conducted with select participants. In the MCP, each of the outcomes significantly changed in the direction hypothesized, resulting in increased MAAS (P = 0.000) and decreased PSS-10 (P = 0.007), VHI (P = 0.000), and SVHI (P = 0.021, n = 22) scores. Using a 2 × 2 Repeated Measures ANOVA, two outcomes were statistically different for the MCP from pre to postcourse-MAAS increased (P = 0.006, ES = 0.107) and VHI decreased (P = 0.034, ES = 0.065)-in comparison to no change in the WCG. Follow-up interviews revealed increased acceptance of the VD; reduced stress, physical tension, and pain/discomfort; increased somatic (or interoceptive) awareness; community with other VD patients; and positive speaking and singing voice changes. An 8-week mindfulness course shows promise for reducing stress in people with VD, lowering voice handicap, and improving quality of life. Future research should evaluate mindfulness in patients with specific voice disorders; patients with higher and lower VHI scores; singers; and patients who experience throat pain. Mindfulness should also be evaluated within a standard voice therapy protocol.