Exploring Culturally Responsive Voice Care: Mitigating Disparities by Addressing Implicit Bias

Abstract

Access to voice care is central to improving the quality of life of patients with voice concerns. However, health care access is a dynamic, complex entity involving various factors, including the voice clinician. The purpose of this clinical focus article is to explicate the impactful role speech pathologists and voice clinicians may play in daily clinical practice to promote health equity through mitigating well-documented negative effects of personal implicit biases in health care and providing culturally responsive practices. Evidence indicates that implicit bias has a grave impact on daily clinical practice and dialogue. Within the complexity of health care access, a clinician either creates barriers or facilitators that determine the acceptability and approachability of the care offered. Unaddressed implicit bias and lack of culturally responsive practices may reduce the quality of care and ultimately hinder a patient from seeking behavioral voice services. However, intentional practices sought by the clinician and health care team to resolve unconscious biases and promote culturally responsive care throughout the therapeutic process are obtainable, as we collectively strive toward health equity for all patients with voice concerns.