Which assessment does NOT require the patient to vocalize?

Auscultation is the assessment method that does not require the patient to vocalize. During auscultation, a healthcare provider uses a stethoscope to listen to sounds produced by the body. This can include heart sounds, lung sounds, and bowel sounds, among others. The patient can remain silent during this process, making it a passive observation that does not rely on patient vocalization.

In contrast, egophony, tactile fremitus, and whispered pectoriloquy all depend on the patient vocalizing to assess various aspects of lung function or structural integrity in the thorax. Specifically, egophony involves the patient saying "ee" to determine changes in lung sounds, tactile fremitus relies on the vibrations transmitted through the lungs when a patient speaks, and whispered pectoriloquy involves the patient whispering to assess for abnormal lung sounds that may indicate consolidation or other pulmonary issues. Thus, auscultation stands apart as the assessment method that can be performed without requiring any vocalization from the patient.