Assessment of Voice disorders Flashcards
What is the purpose of assessment?
identify and describe the following; strengths and deficits in the person’s voice and laryngeal mechanism that affects their communicative performance and breathing; impact of voice disorder on the person’s life activities and participation; contextual factors such as barriers or facilitators of communication
Why is screening children for a voice disorder important?
It will impact their educational and psychosocial development; thus, it’s important to educate parents, teachers, and physicians on how to judge whether a voice is healthy or not.
What screening tools can be used when screening children for a voice disorder?
Quick screen for voice and Voice screening form in the Boone Voice Program for Children
When working with a patient with voice concerns, what must an SLP be mindful of?
He or she can assess the patient, but cannot treat the patient unless medical information (ideally from an ENT) is obtained. If the client cannot see the ENT, then share with him or her as much as information from the assessment as well as the potential risks associated with voice disorders.
What are the components of the voice assessment?
Background and history; interview; non-instrumental assessment; instrumental assessment
Examples of non-instrumental assessments are
observing their behavior in conversation, surveys about their voice quality of life, oral-mech exam, auditory-perceptual judgements
What is the purpose of a behavioral observation?
To corroborate information from the case history
When performing an oral mechanism exam during a voice assessment, an SLP must note
oral/nasal resonance balance, breathing pattern, neck tension, oral cavity, and neurologic signs
How would a breathy voice quality be described?
airy or whispery
What would a harsh voice quality sound like?
raspy sounding like a witch
What would a hoarse voice quality sound like?
combo of breathy and raspy; like a witch whisper
What would a strained voice quality sound like?
very effortful, as if someone is choking
Judging a voice as mild means that it meets the following criteria:
trained listener (e.g., SLP) judges the voice as abnormal but an untrained listener does not; The voice’s qualities do not distract listeners from the message and does not impede communication; dysphonia does not greatly interfere with phonation.
Judging a voice as moderate means that it meets the following criteria:
trained listener and untrained listener judge the voice as abnormal; the voice’s qualities is often distracting and consequently it makes it hard for the person to communication in certain situations; dysphonia interferes with phonation.
Judging a voice as severe means that it meets the following criteria:
trained listener and untrained listener judge the voice as very abnormal; it is so distracting that it interferes with communication; dysphonia causes phonation to not exist or be difficult to do
