Review of the Multidisciplinary Voice Clinic in a District General Hospital of the United Kingdom

Abstract

Introduction The Voice Clinic is a multidisciplinary specialist voice clinic. Our aim is to review patient demographics, subjective symptoms both at presentation and 16 months post clinic and patient satisfaction. Methods A retrospective review of all pre treatment voice clinic questionnaires for all new patients who attended the voice clinic over a 3-month period. A telephone interview was conducted 16 months after first presentation to determine patient satisfaction and whether patient’s symptoms had improved. Results A total of 25 patients who had completed a pre clinic questionnaire were identified, 17/25 completed the follow up interview. 88% of patients reported symptoms of ≥ 6 months duration. 41% underwent Speech and Language Therapy (SALT), 24% had medical management, 6% surgery, and 30% were given advice only. On a severity scale of 1- 10 (10 most severe) 40% rated their voice severity to be ≥5/10 at presentation, 16 months later this was 11% of patients. 56% rated the impact of their voice on their life to be ≥ 5/10 at presentation, 16 months later this was 6%. Conclusion Although limited the review shows that for the majority of patients their symptoms and quality of life improved after review at the multidisciplinary clinic.

Keywords

• Voice
• Speech
• Patient Satisfaction
• Quality of Life.