A voice evaluation involves a series of tests designed to analyze the voice and help to determine what is wrong. The voice evaluation is designed around the patient's problem, and may last as short as a few minutes. Sometimes, with complex voice disorders, the evaluation may last an hour, especially if the voice therapist is evaluating the patient for different forms of therapy.

Typically, the voice evaluation involves a voice recording, which is then run through a series of computer programs that analyze the data. The therapist may then work with the patient's voice, and do another analysis. Such comparisons may be helpful in directing therapy or in forming a diagnosis.

Computerized Voice Analysis
Hoarseness is often a difficult complaint to evaluate, because it can be very subtle.  The term hoarseness is also very general, and is not very specific for different causes.  The use of a computer to analyze different patterns within speech has been very helpful in distinguishing different disorders.

At the NYU Voice Center, patients typically undergo computerized voice analysis in addition to other testing.  The analysis provides data, which can then be interpreted by a trained speech pathologist.  The combination of information that is gained from this computerized analysis and stroboscopy leads to highly accurate diagnosis.  This is necessary for proper treatment.

In addition, computerized voice analysis can be used to track the progress or improvement in a patient.  By using this, we obtain objective feedback to allow us to analyze our results and guide further therapy.