Practical Considerations for Instrumental Acoustic and Aerodynamic Assessment of Voice: Discussion Points From an Open Forum of Clinicians

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this clinical focus article is to summarize a community discussion about the practical implementation of recommended vocal function measures by practicing speech-language pathologists specializing in the treatment of voice and upper airway disorders, review common barriers and challenges to implementation, and suggest opportunities for further education and discussion. Method: An online discussion was held with members of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Special Interest Group (SIG) 3 to facilitate discussion regarding participants' experiences implementing vocal function assessment (acoustic and aerodynamic assessment) in their practice settings. The discussion was based on the expert panel consensus paper by Patel et al. (2018), which provided recommendations for a minimum core set of vocal function measures. Results: Discussion topics included standardization methods, environmental factors, preferred hardware and software, tasks and measures, interpretation, and infection control. Participants reported that the recommendations of the consensus paper provide a useful guideline for obtaining a core set of reliable and valid measures. They also reported facing barriers in meeting these recommendations due to varying practice settings and resources. Conclusions: Variations in instrumental assessment may arise due to differences in clinic models, testing environments, accessible equipment, allotted time, and clinician opinion. During the discussion, participants emphasized the need for further education and discussion on the implementation of vocal function assessment, particularly regarding adaptations for different clinical models, low-cost and low-tech alternatives, synthesis of findings, and the relevance of additional or omitted measures in specific situations. To address these concerns, it is recommended that the SIG 3 community delve deeper into this topic, open additional discussion about various topics cited as barriers to vocal function assessment implementation, and create ongoing educational opportunities for clinicians, especially for those who lack access to a voice-specialized clinical fellowship program or mentorship by a specialized clinical expert.