Principles of voice therapy: How to manage change in vocal behavior

Ulla Beushausen

The presentation introduces strategies to enhance behavioral change of voice patients. Learning theories, motivational questionnaire and a Stages of Change Model are referred. General aspects that are involved in learning processes, f. e. motivation, learning abilities, strategies in transfer and compliance in relation to vocal behavior modification are discussed. Finally the results of an interdisciplinary study towards the influence of communicative behavior in allied health professionals (SLT, PT, OT) to patients-compliance are discussed (Dehn-Hindenberg, in press). The questionnaire results of patients with voice disorders give information about an optimized therapy process. The patients described what kind of skills and social-communicative behavior they expect from voice therapists. Furthermore, strategies, which could be used by therapists to improve compliance of their patients, are deduced from these findings.