JCPSLP Vol 21 No 2 2019 DIGITAL Edition

Measurement and evaluation in practice

Resource review

Ludlow, C. L., Kent, R. D., and Gray, L. C. (2018). Measuring voice, speech, and swallowing in the clinic and laboratory . San Diego, CA: Plural Publishing. ISBN13: 978-1-59756-464-9. $119.95. Also available as an e-book at: https://www.pluralpublishing.com/ publications/measuring-voice-speech-and-swallowing- in-the-clinic-and-laboratory Kirstine Shrubsole (@Kirstiney82) As speech pathologists, we need to show that our treatments are effective. Hence, measuring outcomes is a core part of the speech pathologist’s role. Outcome measurement helps not only to monitor progress, but also to accurately diagnosis the problem, identify therapy goals, and maintain client (and therapist!) motivation. Objective quantitative measures remain the mainstay of outcome measurement. Among these objective measures, instrumental assessments are becoming more prevalent and more easily available to clinicians. Measuring Voice, Speech, and Swallowing in the Clinic and Laboratory is an important resource for those interested in instrumental assessment. It is written by three renowned scholars who bring expertise to the subject. The book has broad appeal, as it aims to provide information on the instruments and measures commonly used for assessing and treating persons with disorders of voice, speech, and swallowing for clinical practice, research studies, and conducting clinical trials. The first section includes several introductory chapters on the signals and systems underlying the majority of instrumental assessments, explaining how different types of signals are produced and measured, and how these measures should be interpreted. Then the anatomy and physiology of systems involved in speech and swallowing are reviewed. Following this, more specific chapters focus on measuring speech (e.g., acoustic analysis), voice (e.g., laryngoscopy) and swallowing (e.g., endoscopy, videofluoroscopy). The closing chapters centre on new developments in electrical and magnetic stimulation for non-invasive stimulation of nerves, muscles, and the brain, for treatment applications. Speech pathologists are not the specific target audience. Rather, the book is aimed at anyone whose role includes measuring voice, speech and swallowing. It provides comprehensive information about the principles underlying instrumental assessments and how to make and interpret these measures accurately. This fundamental information will be useful to students, clinicians and researchers

alike, and will serve to improve communication with our multidisciplinary colleagues. However, it does not delve into specific disorders, how they are diagnosed nor how they should be treated. If you want a book that provides you with clear direction on assessment and treatment choices, then this is not the book for you. This book provides the necessary knowledge for us to make informed choices about instrumental assessment and does not claim to replace our clinical decision-making. The authors acknowledge that the scope is focused on instrumental measurement rather than perceptual ratings – and it does exactly that. As an adjunct to more specific resources about speech, voice and swallowing disorders, Measuring Voice, Speech, and Swallowing in the Clinic and Laboratory is an excellent resource that conveniently integrates information on measurement from different disciplines. This can only serve to improve speech pathologists’ understanding of instrumental outcome measurements and allow us to demonstrate the benefits of our treatments.

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JCPSLP Volume 21, Number 2 2019

Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology