Expressiveness of voice professionals: construction process of a speech-language pathology assessment script.

Telma Dias Dos Santos,Léslie Piccolotto Ferreira

doi:10.1590/2317-1782/20192019121

Telma Dias Dos Santos, Léslie Piccolotto Ferreira

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-1782/20192019121

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Abstract

To create a consensus version of a speech-language pathology (SLP) script to assess the expressiveness of voice professionals. The process was divided into three stages: stage 1 included a survey of the literature and classification of the variables found in the instruments used; in steps 2 and 3, through teamwork, expert judges (focus groups I and II) created and adapted, along with the researcher, a consensus version of the expressiveness assessment script. The initial list presented to the judges contained 48 variables found in the literature: 11 related to emotional and interpretation aspects, 20 associated with oral expressiveness, three related to issues of verbal expressiveness, and 14 related to nonverbal expressiveness. In stage 2, the initial version of the script of the focus group I resulted in a document with 28 parameters, distributed in three thematic assessment groups: general aspects of communication, with three parameters; aspects related to oral expressiveness, with 16 parameters; aspects associated with body expressiveness, with nine parameters. In stage 3, after adequacy by focus group II, the consensus version also resulted in 28 parameters, distributed in two thematic groups. The consensus version of the SLP expressiveness assessment script for voice professionals was finalized with 28 parameters, distributed in two thematic axes: initial impact of communication, with six parameters; expressiveness, with 22 parameters.

Highlights

In the speech-language pathology (SLP) clinic, the evaluation suggests the use of tools and techniques[1]
This study aims to present a consensus version of a Speech‐language Pathology (SLP) script to assess the expressiveness of voice professionals
Speech-language pathologist and phonetician judges validated the content of the initial script and created a consensus version of the speech-language pathology (SLP) expressiveness assessment script for voice professionals

Summary

Introduction

In the speech-language pathology (SLP) clinic, the evaluation suggests the use of tools and techniques[1]. It directs the therapeutic processes and may vary depending on the demands of the individual being evaluated and on the professional performing the assessment. Assessment instruments are commonly used in SLP clinic, and most of them are directed to the evaluation of a particular disorder and employed in rehabilitation[2]. In the absence of specific instruments to this end, SLP has borrowed some instruments primarily designed for the evaluation of disorders. Most speech-language therapists use non-validated instruments to assess expressiveness in their intervention studies conducted with voice professionals[5] Studies addressing intervention with singers and teachers have used validated vocal assessment and self-assessment tools pre‐ and post-intervention[3,4].

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