The prevalence of voice disorder is 6.2% for the general population and 11.0% for teachers (Roy et al., 2004). It is also reported that the prevalence of having at least one episode of voice disorder during the life span was as high as 57.7% for teachers as compared to 28.8% for non-teachers (Roy et al., 2004). Vocal lesions resulted from excessive phonotrauma include vocal nodules, vocal polyps, vocal cysts, vocal fold thickening and chronic laryngitis.

Conventional treatment options for phonotraumatic injuries are behavioural voice therapy and/or surgery. However, approximately 20% of patients do not benefit from these options and complete elimination of vocal lesions is not always possible (Holmberg et al, 2001; Woo et al, 1994). Furthermore, phonosurgery is invasive in nature and the vocal lesions may recur if the patient is subjected to continuing post-operative phonotrauma. It is, therefore, not uncommon for patients to explore for alternative treatment options beyond these conventional treatment methods.

Acupuncture has been demonstrated as an efficacious alternative treatment option for individuals with vocal nodules. The first reported randomized clinical trial involved 24 subjects with phonotraumatic lesions (Yiu et al, 2006). Acupuncture on Zhaohai (KI6, bilateral), Lieque (LU7, bilateral) and Renying (ST9, bilateral) has been shown to improve the vocal function. A more recent study with a modified acupuncture protocol that involved Zhaohai (KI6, bilateral), Lieque (LU7, bilateral), Hegu (LI4, bilateral), Renying (ST9, bilateral), and lianquan (CV23, unilateral) showed also significant results with the genuine acupuncture when compared to sham acupuncture (Kwong, 2009).

This workshop will present

•1)      the scientific background of acupuncture,

•2)      the studies that demonstrated the efficacy of acupuncture for phonotraumatic lesions

•3)      the Hong Kong acupuncture protocol that has been shown to be effective in improving vocal functions