Vocal Abuse/Misuse Reduction Program

Question 1

once behavior is identified, a basline of occurrence should be identified by either…

Answer 1

direct observation of the client or having them track and monitor outside the clinic (individual should tally the behaviors)

Question 2

make the patient aware of 2 things:

Answer 2

1. the impact these abuses have on their voice
2. how they might contribute to an additive lesion

Question 3

the goal is to make the patient cognitively aware of the relationship between

Answer 3

vocal misuse/abuse to the symptoms of the voice

Question 4

it is often a good idea to give the patient a…

Answer 4

more hygenic behavior which can be substituted for the vocally abusive behavior

Question 5

discuss the identified abuses with the patient and emphasize…

Answer 5

the need to reduce their daily frequency

Question 6

assign the patient with the task of…

Answer 6

counting the number of times they engage in a particular abuse/misuse (tallied at end of day)

Question 7

plot the daily occurrence of vocal abuse/misuse on a graph

Answer 7

the graph serves to make the patient aware of what they have been doing and allows them to track progress

Question 8

vertical axis of vocal abuse/misuse graph

Answer 8

number of times the abuse occurred

Question 9

horizontal axis of vocal abuse/misuse graph

Answer 9

individual days

Question 10

have the patient bring these graphs to therapy and discuss

Answer 10

• really reinforce when you see the occurrences decreasing
• over time, the graph should demonstrate a gradual decline in the abusive behavior