Outcomes of Teletherapy and Face-to-Face Voice Therapy for Vocal Fold Nodules: A First-Line Treatment Comparison

Esma Altan; Elife Barmak; Zeynep Yılmaz; Dilara Söylemez; Tuğçe Pütürgeli Özer; Emel Çadallı Tatar

doi:10.18621/eurj.1847969

Outcomes of Teletherapy and Face-to-Face Voice Therapy for Vocal Fold Nodules: A First-Line Treatment Comparison

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of teletherapy and face-to-face voice therapy in patients diagnosed with vocal fold nodules by evaluating acoustic, aerodynamic, perceptual, and patient-reported voice outcomes.

Methods: A total of 40 patients with vocal fold nodules received either teletherapy or face-to-face voice therapy for a period of six to eight weeks. Voice assessments were performed before and after therapy and included videolaryngoscopic examination, acoustic voice analysis, aerodynamic voice measurements, auditory-perceptual voice evaluation, and patient-reported outcome measures related to voice handicap, voice-related quality of life, and reflux-related symptoms.

Results: Both therapy groups demonstrated significant improvements in acoustic voice stability, perceptual voice quality, and patient-reported voice outcomes after treatment. No significant differences were observed between teletherapy and face-to-face therapy for most outcome measures. Patients receiving face-to-face therapy showed a greater change in fundamental frequency compared with those receiving teletherapy. Both therapy modalities were associated with significant reductions in voice-related handicap, improvements in voice-related quality of life, and decreased reflux-related symptoms.

Conclusions: Teletherapy appears to be an effective and accessible alternative to face-to-face voice therapy for patients with vocal fold nodules. Further studies are warranted to investigate long-term outcomes and to explore integrated and hybrid treatment models in voice rehabilitation.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the University of Health Sciences Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Training and Research Hospital Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Decision No: 111/01; date: 17.05.2021. All procedures were conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments. Informed consent was not required in this study because this is a retrospective study.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Rehabilitation

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Esma Altan ^*
0000-0002-3080-3571
Türkiye

Elife Barmak
0000-0002-6479-0553
Türkiye

Zeynep Yılmaz
0009-0003-1112-2185
Türkiye

Dilara Söylemez
0000-0003-2342-719X
Türkiye

Tuğçe Pütürgeli Özer
0000-0003-3670-2808
Türkiye

Emel Çadallı Tatar
0000-0003-3365-6308
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

February 10, 2026

Publication Date

March 1, 2026

Submission Date

December 24, 2025

Acceptance Date

February 5, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 12 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.1847969

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA59GY34DF

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Altan, E., Barmak, E., Yılmaz, Z., Söylemez, D., Pütürgeli Özer, T., & Çadallı Tatar, E. (2026). Outcomes of Teletherapy and Face-to-Face Voice Therapy for Vocal Fold Nodules: A First-Line Treatment Comparison. The European Research Journal, 12(3), 376-386. https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.1847969

AMA

1.Altan E, Barmak E, Yılmaz Z, Söylemez D, Pütürgeli Özer T, Çadallı Tatar E. Outcomes of Teletherapy and Face-to-Face Voice Therapy for Vocal Fold Nodules: A First-Line Treatment Comparison. Eur Res J. 2026;12(3):376-386. doi:10.18621/eurj.1847969

Chicago

Altan, Esma, Elife Barmak, Zeynep Yılmaz, Dilara Söylemez, Tuğçe Pütürgeli Özer, and Emel Çadallı Tatar. 2026. “Outcomes of Teletherapy and Face-to-Face Voice Therapy for Vocal Fold Nodules: A First-Line Treatment Comparison”. The European Research Journal 12 (3): 376-86. https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.1847969.

EndNote

Altan E, Barmak E, Yılmaz Z, Söylemez D, Pütürgeli Özer T, Çadallı Tatar E (March 1, 2026) Outcomes of Teletherapy and Face-to-Face Voice Therapy for Vocal Fold Nodules: A First-Line Treatment Comparison. The European Research Journal 12 3 376–386.

IEEE

[1]E. Altan, E. Barmak, Z. Yılmaz, D. Söylemez, T. Pütürgeli Özer, and E. Çadallı Tatar, “Outcomes of Teletherapy and Face-to-Face Voice Therapy for Vocal Fold Nodules: A First-Line Treatment Comparison”, Eur Res J, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 376–386, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.18621/eurj.1847969.

ISNAD

Altan, Esma - Barmak, Elife - Yılmaz, Zeynep - Söylemez, Dilara - Pütürgeli Özer, Tuğçe - Çadallı Tatar, Emel. “Outcomes of Teletherapy and Face-to-Face Voice Therapy for Vocal Fold Nodules: A First-Line Treatment Comparison”. The European Research Journal 12/3 (March 1, 2026): 376-386. https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.1847969.

JAMA

1.Altan E, Barmak E, Yılmaz Z, Söylemez D, Pütürgeli Özer T, Çadallı Tatar E. Outcomes of Teletherapy and Face-to-Face Voice Therapy for Vocal Fold Nodules: A First-Line Treatment Comparison. Eur Res J. 2026;12:376–386.

MLA

Altan, Esma, et al. “Outcomes of Teletherapy and Face-to-Face Voice Therapy for Vocal Fold Nodules: A First-Line Treatment Comparison”. The European Research Journal, vol. 12, no. 3, Mar. 2026, pp. 376-8, doi:10.18621/eurj.1847969.

Vancouver

1.Esma Altan, Elife Barmak, Zeynep Yılmaz, Dilara Söylemez, Tuğçe Pütürgeli Özer, Emel Çadallı Tatar. Outcomes of Teletherapy and Face-to-Face Voice Therapy for Vocal Fold Nodules: A First-Line Treatment Comparison. Eur Res J. 2026 Mar. 1;12(3):376-8. doi:10.18621/eurj.1847969