Clinical evaluation of the voice: noninstrumental

This review focuses on 10 studies published in 1999 reporting new findings or techniques related to auditory-perceptual judgments that may have utility during voice evaluation. A study of phonatory air flow characteristics of adductor spasmodic dysphonia and muscle tension dysphonia concluded that perceptual focus on “degree of vocal improvement” rather than specific vocal function (such as loudness or voice stoppages) was why perceptual judgments failed to differentiate these groups. Perceptual ratings of cleft palate speech revealed that speech samples in paired comparisons were more reliable. The investigation of the effectiveness of voice therapy in the treatment of nonorganic dysphonia supports the use of a patient auditory-perceptual self-assessment as well as external judgment when evaluating voice. The remaining studies provided data that warrant closer consideration of the applicability of their findings to perceptual voice evaluation.