Development and Rationale for the Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice-Revised (CAPE-Vr)

The Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) has been in circulation for more than 20 years. Over the course of time, issues have arisen that have had an impact on the intended administration and interpretation of this common clinical tool.

Based on published literature, clinical experience, recent survey data, and practical considerations, and while maintaining the original purpose of the instrument, the authors developed a revised protocol, new rating form, and updated instructions for the CAPE-V, now called the CAPE-V-Revised (CAPE-Vr).

Revisions to the CAPE-V include the following: removal of textual labels indicating regions of severity under each visual analog scale on the rating form, instead displaying terms indicating the direction of the lines; modification of several of the stimuli; revised rating options for pitch, loudness, and resonance, and an added category for nasality; added space to describe inconsistencies according to task; modified options for vocal instabilities and other features; and added space for comments about overall impression. The form also includes sections for documenting recording and rating conditions. Updated instructions are provided to clarify the CAPE-Vr protocol and correspond closely to the rating form.

The CAPE-Vr is constructed to avoid common errors and problems identified from previous use of the original CAPE-V. This paper provides a rationale for each modification to the original CAPE-V, an updated form, and an example of a completed form. The CAPE-Vr is intended as a clear and useful assessment tool for documenting the auditory-perceptual evaluation of voice.