mHealth technologies for voice disorders: a scoping review

Abstract

Technological advancements in healthcare offer the potential to enhance patient outcomes, clinician productivity and access to care, yet evidence regarding their availability, clinical application and long-term effectiveness in voice disorders remains unclear, highlighting the need for a comprehensive scoping review. This research study aimed to map and describe existing evidence on the use of mobile health (mHealth) technologies for the early detection, assessment and treatment of voice disorders. Conducted according to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) framework and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews Checklist (PRISMA-ScR), the review identified 84 studies, most of which were published between 2016-2025 and conducted in mostly high-income countries (n = 77). The majority of studies focused on adult populations (67%) and involved the use of smartphones (51%) or telehealth platforms (19%). These mHealth solutions primarily targeted neurological (27%) and functional voice disorders (20%), and demonstrated feasibility, accessibility and potential for early detection, monitoring and therapy. Most studies (31%) relied on acoustic assessments, while only 4% used gold standard laryngeal imaging techniques, such as stroboscopy or endoscopy. This review suggests that mHealth technologies hold significant potential to enhance accessibility, equity and cost-effectiveness in voice disorder care, particularly in underserved regions. Further research is needed to expand applications in early detection, diagnosis and management. These mHealth solutions could potentially transform care into a preventative and globally sustainable model. Keywords: Scoping review, mHealth, voice disorders, telehealth, smartphone applications, management.