Laryngeal Manual Therapy workshop

Lesley Mathieson, Ruth Epstein, Shashivadan Hirani, RJ Baken, John S. Rubin

Laryngeal Manual Therapy (LMT) is being used increasingly in the treatment of muscle tension dysphonia and other voice disorders, where hyperfunctional phonation is a significant primary or secondary feature. Aronson originally described manual treatment for the reduction of musculoskeletal tension associated with vocal hyperfunction in the 1980s. Subsequently, a number of practitioners in the UK, USA and elsewhere have developed various manual therapy techniques. As a result, journal papers are emerging which are providing an increasing evidence-base for LMT. Results of a recent preliminary study of a method of LMT used at the Royal National Throat Nose and Ear (RNTNE) Hospital, London, similarly provide evidence of LMT’s efficacy. In addition, anecdotal evidence suggests that LMT reduces intervention time in the treatment of appropriate voice disorders.
This workshop will cover the theoretical bases of LMT andthe evidence base for the technique. Practical demonstrations will be given of the clinical approach used by the RNTNE Hospital team. The Vocal Tract Discomfort Scale (VTD) - a new qualitative and quantitative self-rating scale of the frequency and severity of throat discomfort - will be introduced.

Lesley Mathieson FRCSLT
Visiting Lecturer in Voice Pathology Institute of Laryngology and Otology
University College London
Honorary Research Adviser
Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital
London
lesley_mathieson@yahoo.com