ABSTRACT
Voice assessment procedures will differ from clinic to clinic and undoubtedly different emphasis may be given to certain aspects of assessment depending on the experience, interest, resources and competencies of individual clinicians. During the assessment it is very important that the clinician maintains visual contact with the patient so that any non-verbal behaviour associated with the voice disorder is noted. Posture is of critical importance in maximising vocal potential and it is an area that should be carefully assessed. Phonation which starts abruptly with hard glottal attack can be identified quite easily and assessed on a present/absent basis. Assessment of reflexive/vegetative sounds, which include laughing, coughing, clearing the throat and fillers such as /em/ or /uh-huh/ are important indicators of voice quality produced in a non-speech task. The most essential measures required by the clinician for assessment purposes relate to acoustic, vibratory and aerodynamic features in addition to muscle action events.
