OBJECTIVE: To verify the auditory-vocal perceptual modifications after surgical intervention and voice therapy. METHODS: The study subject was a 32-year-old man with right vocal fold paralysis due to traumatic brain injury caused by a firearm projectile who underwent thyroplasty type I and 6 sessions of therapy. Auditory perceptual voice evaluation of spontaneous speech was evaluated according to the RASATI scale and the aspects pitch, loudness, and resonance before and after surgery and after voice therapy. The audios were analyzed by 3 speech therapists with experience in voice, and the results of the analyses were considered together to determine the predominant judgment in each parameter. The voice therapy consisted of the following techniques: overarticulation, lip constriction, and cardinal points with the tongue. RESULTS: After surgery, there were improvements in breathiness (moderate degree became discreet), asthenia (discreet became normal), tension (moderate became discreet), and pitch (discreet became normal); worsening of hoarseness (discreet became moderate); and no modifications in instability (remained moderate), hypernasal resonance (remained intense), and roughness (normal). After voice therapy, there were improvements in hoarseness (moderate became normal) and instability (moderate became discreet). Other aspects showed no modifications. CONCLUSION: The thyroplasty type I improved the auditory-vocal perceptual aspects of breathiness, asthenia, tension, and pitch and aggravated hoarseness without influencing the instability and resonance, and the voice therapy improved the aspects of hoarseness and instability. Thus, the importance of voice therapy after laryngeal surgery is emphasized.
