Abstract
OBJECTIVE:To propose and test the applicability of a dysphonia risk screening protocol with score calculation in individuals with and without dysphonia.METHOD:This descriptive cross-sectional study included 365 individuals (41 children, 142 adult women, 91 adult men and 91 seniors) divided into a dysphonic group and a non-dysphonic group. The protocol consisted of 18 questions and a score was calculated using a 10-cm visual analog scale. The measured value on the visual analog scale was added to the overall score, along with other partial scores. Speech samples allowed for analysis/assessment of the overall degree of vocal deviation and initial definition of the respective groups and after six months, the separation of the groups was confirmed using an acoustic analysis.RESULTS:The mean total scores were different between the groups in all samples. Values ranged between 37.0 and 57.85 in the dysphonic group and between 12.95 and 19.28 in the non-dysphonic group, with overall means of 46.09 and 15.55, respectively. High sensitivity and specificity were demonstrated when discriminating between the groups with the following cut-off points: 22.50 (children), 29.25 (adult women), 22.75 (adult men), and 27.10 (seniors).CONCLUSION:The protocol demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in differentiating groups of individuals with and without dysphonia in different sample groups and is thus an effective instrument for use in voice clinics.
Highlights
An essential component of the speech-language pathologist’s voice assessment is the initial investigation, which, in most cases, is designated as anamnesis
Anamnesis can be decisive in the differential diagnosis of dysphonia; in particular, it is extremely important for understanding each case and provides the initial moment at which a bond is established between the speech therapist and the patient (6)
In contrast to the availability of models of voice-related quality-of-life protocols in which the scores determine the impact of dysphonia for a given individual (7,8), we did not find any protocol for an initial investigation that allows for individual
Summary
An essential component of the speech-language pathologist’s voice assessment is the initial investigation, which, in most cases, is designated as anamnesis. Anamnesis can be decisive in the differential diagnosis of dysphonia; in particular, it is extremely important for understanding each case and provides the initial moment at which a bond is established between the speech therapist and the patient (6). The data from this initial investigation have been analyzed in combination with data on other procedures, such as a laryngological evaluation, auditory-perceptual and acoustic voice analyses and a voice-related quality-of-life measure (3).
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