The role of voice range profile measurements in the diagnostics and therapy evaluation of patients with functional voice disorders

Based on current research evidence with this article the role of voice range profile measurements in the diagnostics and therapy evaluation of patients with functional voice disorders will be critically evaluated. According to european guidelines voice range profiles of the speaking and singing voice form part of standard clinical voice assessment procedures. However especially in functional disorders voice range profiles offer only limited evidence due to a number of reasons. Healthy voices show great interindividual differences in performance and current norm values base on limited groups. Furthermore procedural and technical details such as the measurement protocol influence assessment results. Therefore functional voice disorders should be diagnosed and documented using a multimodal approach. Besides visual examination techniques structured patient self-reporting methods such as the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) are important in documenting functional voice changes. © Schulz-Kirchner Verlag.

Publication year:2010