Relations Between the Voice and the Ear With Clinical Implications

The ear and the vocal mechanism are closely tied. We develop our voice and speech skills with constant aural feedback by making on-line changes in our acoustic output based on our self-perceived acoustic output. The efficacy of the human voice in communicating messages and ideas to others is inevitably dependent upon the human auditory system (of both the listener and the talker). Thus, a basic understanding of the relation of these two mechanisms is fundamental to an accurate assessment of potential vocal issues. The authors will review and discuss some of the relationships between the voice and the ear, the environmental factors that can affect aural feedback in a clinical setting, and the significance of this discussion to the speech-language pathologist.