Abstract
Instrument-assisted measuring procedures expand the options within phoniatric diagnostics by quantifying the condition of the voice. The aim of this study was to examine objective treatment-associated changes of the recently developed vocal extent measure (VEM) and the established dysphonia severity index (DSI) in relation to subjective tools, i.e., self-evaluation via voice handicap index (VHI-12) and external evaluation via auditory-perceptual assessment of hoarseness (H). The findings for H (3 raters' group assessment), VHI-12, DSI, and VEM in 152 patients of both sexes (age range 16–75 years), taken before and 3 months after phonosurgery or vocal exercises, were compared and correlated. Posttherapeutically, all of the recorded parameters improved (p < 0.001). The degree of H reduced on average by 0.5, the VHI-12 score sank by 5 points, while DSI and VEM rose by 1.5 and 19, respectively. The correlations of these changes were significant but showed gradual differences between H and VHI-12 (r = 0.3), H and DSI (r = −0.3), and H and VEM (r = −0.4). We conclude that all investigated parameters are adequate to verify therapeutic outcomes but represent different dimensions of the voice. However, changes in the degree of H as gold standard were best recognized with the new VEM.
Highlights
Instrument-assisted measuring procedures expand the options within phoniatric diagnostics by quantifying the condition of the voice. e aim of this study was to examine objective treatment-associated changes of the recently developed vocal extent measure (VEM) and the established dysphonia severity index (DSI) in relation to subjective tools, i.e., self-evaluation via voice handicap index (VHI-12) and external evaluation via auditory-perceptual assessment of hoarseness (H). e findings for H (3 raters’ group assessment), VHI-12, DSI, and VEM in 152 patients of both sexes, taken before and 3 months after phonosurgery or vocal exercises, were compared and correlated
Common pillars in voice diagnostics: DSI: dysphonia severity index MPT: maximum phonation time RBH: roughness (R), breathiness (B), and hoarseness (H) VEM: vocal extent measure VHI: voice handicap index VLS: videolaryngostroboscopy VRP: voice range profile perceived roughness (R), breathiness (B), and the overall grade of hoarseness (H). e application of the RBH scale is considered to be reliable, when group assessments are used for further analysis [13,14,15]
Since the DSI quantifies dysphonia as a negative criterion and involves the risk of inaccurate results due to its multidimensional acquisition, we recently developed the one-dimensional vocal extent measure (VEM) for objective VRP evaluation [19]. e VEM quantifies the subject’s dynamic performance and frequency range and is calculated as a relation of area and perimeter of the VRP. e VEM describes the vocal abilities and enables a classification of voice performance as a positive criterion [20]
Summary
Instrument-assisted measuring procedures expand the options within phoniatric diagnostics by quantifying the condition of the voice. e aim of this study was to examine objective treatment-associated changes of the recently developed vocal extent measure (VEM) and the established dysphonia severity index (DSI) in relation to subjective tools, i.e., self-evaluation via voice handicap index (VHI-12) and external evaluation via auditory-perceptual assessment of hoarseness (H). e findings for H (3 raters’ group assessment), VHI-12, DSI, and VEM in 152 patients of both sexes (age range 16–75 years), taken before and 3 months after phonosurgery or vocal exercises, were compared and correlated. E aim of this study was to examine objective treatment-associated changes of the recently developed vocal extent measure (VEM) and the established dysphonia severity index (DSI) in relation to subjective tools, i.e., self-evaluation via voice handicap index (VHI-12) and external evaluation via auditory-perceptual assessment of hoarseness (H). Several measurements are recommended for voice evaluation, comprising subjective procedures such as self-assessment of the voice and external auditory-perceptual judgment, as well as objective procedures such as voice range profile (VRP) measurements, acoustic-aerodynamic analysis, and videolaryngostroboscopy (VLS). Common pillars in voice diagnostics: DSI: dysphonia severity index MPT: maximum phonation time RBH: roughness (R), breathiness (B), and (overall grade of) hoarseness (H) VEM: vocal extent measure VHI: voice handicap index VLS: videolaryngostroboscopy VRP: voice range profile perceived roughness (R), breathiness (B), and the overall grade of hoarseness (H). Common pillars in voice diagnostics: DSI: dysphonia severity index MPT: maximum phonation time RBH: roughness (R), breathiness (B), and (overall grade of) hoarseness (H) VEM: vocal extent measure VHI: voice handicap index VLS: videolaryngostroboscopy VRP: voice range profile perceived roughness (R), breathiness (B), and the overall grade of hoarseness (H). e application of the RBH scale is considered to be reliable, when group assessments are used for further analysis [13,14,15]
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