Structure of the therapeutic objectivesin speech-language pathology interventionsforservice users with vocal needs: an exploratory systematic review

Abstract

This review aims to identify and describe the structure of the therapeutic objectives included in research reporting vocal therapy procedures during the last five years. The strategic search was carried out on three databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect and Web Of Science and 3,974 records were obtained. After the analysis, 12 articles met the inclusion criteria. The general trend in the literature of the area is the omission of the objectives and the exclusive reference to the therapeutic procedures used. The qualitative analysis shows an absence of a standard textual structure and a lack of differentiation between levels of objective hierarchy, which causes a high degree of heterogeneity in their writing. The role of client is rather secondary and passive. The setting of achievement criteria and the contents operationalization to be addressed in the voice therapy session are insufficiently attended. The enunciation of the therapy contents from their conceptual nature hinders a concrete measurement to the therapeutical task proposed, due to its lack of operationalization. It is concluded that there is no common structure in the vocal therapy objectives formulation.