Understanding physical and behavioral causes of voice strain and hoarseness
Identifying physical and behavioral factors and mechanisms to improve detection and phenotyping of vocal hyperfunction
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · NIH-11311826
This project looks at how daily voice use, reflux, hearing, personality, and environmental sounds relate to chronic voice strain in adults to improve diagnosis and care.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BOSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11311826 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would wear small ambulatory voice monitors that record your voice use during daily life while researchers also collect information on reflux status, hearing, and personality. They compare people with phonotraumatic problems (like nodules or polyps) versus those with non‑traumatic muscle tension dysphonia to see how voice use and reactions to sound differ. Some participants may receive voice therapy or ambulatory biofeedback and researchers measure how people respond. Computational models are used to estimate vocal physiology that is hard to measure directly so different types of vocal hyperfunction can be better identified.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) with chronic hoarseness, voice strain, aphonia, or benign vocal fold lesions such as nodules or polyps who can attend visits and wear monitoring devices.
Not a fit: People whose voice problems are caused by clear structural or neurological damage (for example vocal fold paralysis or laryngeal cancer), and children under 21, are less likely to benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to earlier, more accurate detection of voice strain and more personalized voice therapy to reduce symptoms and prevent vocal fold lesions.
How similar studies have performed: Previous ambulatory voice monitoring and voice therapy work has shown promise, but combining multiple behavioral, clinical, and model-based measures to phenotype vocal hyperfunction is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
BOSTON, UNITED STATES
- MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL — BOSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: HILLMAN, ROBERT E — MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- Study coordinator: HILLMAN, ROBERT E
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 below.