Following completion of the VLS procedure, the ENT physician may recommend for the patient to complete a voice evaluation. The voice evaluation is a crucial opportunity to dive deeper into specific voice issues that may be contributing to the patient’s difficulty. The voice evaluation is also a necessary step toward voice rehabilitation, as it is used to determine whether or not the patient is a good candidate for, and would benefit from, therapeutic voice intervention. The voice evaluation provides further guidance for the treatment plan to help the patient achieve improved outcomes in specific areas.
The voice evaluation is completed by a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) who specialized in voice function and care. It is non-invasive and requires no preparation by the patient. Before the evaluation, the patient will be asked a series of questions related to voice health including medical, behavioral, and environmental information. During the evaluation, the patient will be asked to complete a variety of vocal and functional tasks to determine current voice health and to test vocal response to those tasks to provide specific guidance for plan of care and to establish goals for voice therapy.
Upon completion of the voice evaluation, voice rehabilitation may be indicated and can be scheduled at that time. Therapeutic intervention, in tandem with medical management, will help the patient achieve their best outcomes. The voice evaluation is also used to reassess and determine if treatment should continue. The voice evaluation is a crucial part of the overall plan of care and is necessary to address the specific needs of the patient.
