A Historical Perspective of Voice Management: 1940-1970

Abstract

Purpose: To provide the current speech-language pathologist with a historical perspective of voice management of children and adults in the time period 1940-1970, employing both literature citation and personal anecdotal experience. Method: Each decade of the time period 1940-1970 has been reviewed specific to available literature, descriptions of existing clinical voice services available, and the personal academic and clinical training of the author and his subsequent professional experiences. Equipment availability for use in measurement and treatment of respiratory and resonance problems was well established in the 1940s and early 1950s. Equipment for measuring voice pitch and voice quality arrived much later. For much of this time period, the treatment of vocal hyperfunction was primarily provided by psychologists and psychiatrists. Results: As we review the practice of clinical voice 40-60 years ago, we appreciate this past influence on what we do today in voice management. Conclusions: Without the benefit of computer assist and related instrumentation that we have today, voice management in past time periods appears to have been remarkably successful.