Survey of Voice-Focused Speech-Language Pathologists’ Usage of the Consensus Auditory Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V)

As part of the process of developing specific recommendations for modifying certain elements of the Consensus Auditory Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) to promote end-user fidelity, the authors sought input from voice clinicians who regularly use the CAPE-V to assess voice quality. At an academic meeting focusing on voice disorders, we presented a poster briefly reviewing the CAPE-V protocol and describing several sources of variability that have been reported in its current use. Interested viewers were directed to a QR code linking to a brief, anonymous survey on how individuals currently use the CAPE-V and how they might improve it. A link to the survey was also distributed on the conference discussion board. Fifty-nine participants responded to the survey: 49 completed it. The median respondent reported 8years of experience conducting voice evaluations, with 50% of their current practice in voice, and about eight voice evaluations per week. Key findings from this survey were that fewer than half of respondents reported audio recording any components of in-person or virtual voice evaluations, and that most respondents reported changing some aspect of the CAPE-V tasks and stimuli in practice. This exploratory study revealed a wide range of idiosyncratic practices by clinicians when administering and scoring the CAPE-V. The findings support planned revisions to the CAPE-V protocol and form involving the tasks, stimuli, and rating procedures.