title: The voice use reduction program.
abstract: The purpose of this article is to describe a structured behavior modification approach to the reduction of voice use by clients with voice disorders. The Voice Use Reduction (VUR) Program is conceptualized as part of a comprehensive approach to the treatment of voice. The VUR Program provides guidelines for the classification of voice use situations, the assignment of voice use units to different situations, and the calculation of the maximum number of units per day and per week in a severe, moderate, and low voice use reduction program. Two case examples are described to illustrate the application of the VUR Program. The results of an evaluation of the VUR Program by 10 female students who presented with vocal nodules and applied the program also are included.
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication Pathology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa. anita.vandermerwe@up.ac.za
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van der Merwe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000473:pathology*; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D014833:Voice Quality