Session Descriptions

Voice Evaluation and Treatment: Improving Outcomes for Children and Adults

August 5–17, 2020 | Online Conference

These pre-recorded lectures are on-demand and last only an hour, so you can listen to them whenever time permits!

Pediatric Voice Assessment
Shannon M. Theis, PhD, CCC-SLP 

This session will focus on the assessment of pediatric voice disorders, including techniques for successful laryngeal visualization with children, differential diagnosis of vocal pathologies in the pediatric population, acoustic/aerodynamic measures of vocal function, and implementing a multidisciplinary approach for evaluation and treatment.

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• describe evaluation procedures for clinical assessment of voice disorders in children
• identify at least three strategies that can be used with children to increase compliance with evaluation techniques
• describe the importance of assessing pediatric voice disorders through a multidisciplinary team approach

Treatment of Pediatric Voice Disorders
Katherine (Kittie) Verdolini Abbott, PhD, CCC-SLP, and Hagar Feinstein

This session presents an approach to voice treatment and training for children that uses age-adapted play and emphasizes vocal function as opposed to conservation. The speakers will discuss the science and data behind the approach, as well as practical issues and strategies for clinical service delivery.

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• explain basic science foundations of a new approach to pediatric voice therapy
• discuss novel approaches to voice hygiene for children
• use specific techniques based on a novel approach to voice therapy for children

Instrumental Voice Assessment
Rita Patel, PhD, CCC-SLP

This session will present key aspects of the ASHA-recommended standard protocols published in 2018 for endoscopic, acoustic, and aerodynamic assessment of voice. The protocols include specifications for instrumentation, environmental conditions, voice/speech tasks, analysis methods, and target measures. They facilitate comparisons across clinical settings and research studies to improve the evidence base in the area of voice.

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• identify relevant components of instrumental voice assessment for evaluation of voice disorders
• use basic voice/speech tasks for imaging, acoustic, and aerodynamic assessment of vocal function
• identify basic parameters for obtaining and analyzing findings from imaging, acoustic, and aerodynamic modalities

Enhancing Clinical Practice With Effective Stroboscopy Interpretation
Rita Patel, PhD, CCC-SLP

This session will describe how to evaluate stroboscopy results using a new visuoperceptual assessment tool—the Voice-Vibratory Assessment with Laryngeal Imaging (VALI) rating form. The speaker will also discuss how to integrate the results from stroboscopy intro treatment planning and execution.

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• describe the difference between endoscopy and stroboscopy
• describe the appropriate tasks for various endoscopic and stroboscopic parameter evaluation
• identify how to use stroboscopy results for treatment purposes

Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice and Voice Disorders
Tanya Eadie, PhD, CCC-SLP

This session will summarize sources of variability in auditory-perceptual voice assessments. The speaker will discuss strategies to reduce sources of error and introduce methods that may be applied in future clinical practice and research.

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• describe current approaches to auditory perceptual evaluation of voice disorders
• explain limitations of current approaches to auditory-perceptual evaluation of voice
• describe methods to strengthen reliability and validity of current approaches to auditory-perceptual evaluation of voice

Overcoming Treatment Compliance Challenges in Voice Treatment
Jarrad H. Van Stan, PhD, CCC-SLP

Ensuring carryover and compliance outside of voice therapy sessions is one of the most difficult aspects of intervention for voice disorders. This session will discuss the latest research, technology, and strategies that can help improve carryover and compliance.

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• implement the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System to identify which aspects of voice therapy are directed toward patient functioning and which are directed toward patient volition
• describe 2-3 mobile technologies that may help improve compliance outside therapy sessions
• describe 2-3 behavioral treatment strategies that may be useful to improve patient compliance

Including Vocal Hygiene Recommendations in Treatment Planning
Kristine Tanner, PhD, CCC-SLP

This session will highlight up-to-date, evidence-based vocal hygiene recommendations that will produce desired clinical outcomes without causing undue burden on patients.

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• explain the role of vocal hygiene in comprehensive voice treatment
• identify evidence-based vocal hygiene recommendations
• determine when vocal hygiene recommendations should be included in treatment planning

Evidence-Based Treatments for Muscle Tension Dysphonia
Kristine Tanner, PhD, CCC-SLP

This session will discuss strategies for successfully managing muscle tension dysphonia in patients of all ages and across practice settings.

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• identify the hallmark features of muscle tension dysphonia
• use diagnostic probes to determine the best treatment approaches
• explain the primary steps for administering manual interventions for muscle tension dysphonia

Aging Voice
Edie R. Hapner, PhD, CCC-SLP

This session will discuss presbyphonia—the anatomical, physiological, and overall functional changes to the vocal mechanism as patients age. The speaker will present assessment strategies, with and without advanced instrumental assessment, as well as treatment options. The speaker will also discuss case studies to highlight treatment decision-making and interprofessional care for voice issues that accompany aging.

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• define presbyphonia and describe its defining characteristics
• utilize evidence-based decision treatment decision making by identifying salient features of a minimum of 3 cases and match features to their treatment options

Voice and Communication Modification for People Who Identify Along the Gender Spectrum
Sandy Hirsch, MS, CCC-SLP

This session will explore working with people along the gender spectrum to attain their desired voice and communication goals. The speaker will address cultural humility; methods of intake and assessment; training of vocal, verbal, and nonverbal parameters; and assessing readiness for exit from voice and communication modification.

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• perform an appropriate voice and communication intake with people who identify along the gender spectrum
• obtain the necessary baseline measures of voice and related communication parameters with people who identify along the gender spectrum
• plan and execute healthy, sustainable, and individualized voice and communication approaches for people who identify along the gender spectrum

Special Considerations for Performers
Brian E. Petty, MA, CCC-SLP

This session will examine best practices for working with performing artists, a special population that on the one hand has unique stressors and needs but on the other hand shares many issues and concerns with the broader community of patients with voice disorders. The speaker will discuss how clinicians can ensure that the therapeutic process is effective and relevant for vocal performing artists.

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• identify vocal demands and stressors that are specific to vocal performing artists
• identify vocal demands and stressors that performing artists share with the broader population of patients with voice disorders
• use methods that ensure an objective and effective approach to treatment for this specialized population

Accessible, Low-Cost Methods for Voice Assessment
Julie Barkmeier-Kraemer, PhD, CCC-SLP

This session will share low-cost and accessible methods for voice measurement that clinicians in any work setting can use as part of a voice assessment for adults and children. These assessment methods address the impact of vocal issues on activities of daily living, allow individuals to report voice changes over time, and aid clinicians in developing treatment goals and measuring outcomes.

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• identify key components of a voice assessment that identify the presence or absence, nature, and severity of a voice disorder
• identify basic equipment necessary for a voice assessment in a variety of settings
• describe appropriate measures of voice used to test hypotheses about and track voice change over time as well as those related to treatment