Improving voice therapy for better communication outcomes
Official title: Deconstructing Voice Therapy: Towards Enhanced Communication Outcomes
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11133442 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new way to help people with voice disorders improve their speaking skills by practicing real conversations right from the start, making it easier for them to stick with therapy and communicate better in everyday life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | April 4, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $598,564 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DC022026-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11133442 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing hyperfunctional voice disorders who are seeking effective voice therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with voice disorders that are not hyperfunctional or those who do not require voice therapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing voice therapy for individuals with voice disorders, which affects millions of Americans. It introduces a novel approach called Conversation Training Therapy (CTT), which allows patients to practice their speech in real-life conversations from the very beginning of treatment. By emphasizing clear articulation and immediate application of skills, the goal is to reduce dropout rates and improve long-term effectiveness of voice therapy. The study aims to validate this non-hierarchical therapy model and its impact on everyday communication.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective voice therapy methods that significantly improve communication quality for patients with voice disorders.
How similar studies have gone: While traditional voice therapy methods have been widely used, the non-hierarchical approach of CTT is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in prior research.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gillespie, Amanda I — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Gillespie, Amanda I
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.