Development of a minimum protocol for assessment in the paediatric voice clinic. Part 2: Subjective measurement of symptoms of voice disorder

Abstract

The European Laryngological Society (ELS) recommend that functional assessment of voice disorder in adults requires evaluation of a number of different parameters. These include perceptual evaluation of voice, videostroboscopic imaging of vocal fold movement, acoustic analysis of specific voicing aspects, aerodynamic support for voicing, and a subjective rating of voice impact. No specific guidelines are available for children, but a similar range of parameters is needed to guide intervention and measure outcomes. The development of subjective voice measures for adults and their adaptations for the paediatric population are reviewed and compared to the research comparing these to evaluation of vocal function. The need for further refinement of child assessment measures, and a proposal of how these might be developed, is discussed.