Usefulness of Direct Magnitude Estimation (DME) and Acoustic Analysis in Measuring Dysphonia Severity

Abstract

ObjectivesThe purposes of this study were (1) to analyze the reliability of DME in auditory perceptual assessments measuring dysphonia severity and (2) analyze the relationship between DME and four acoustic parameters (CPP, CPPs, AVQI, and ABI) and (3) predict dysphonia severity based on DME using four acoustic parameters. Study Design161 voice samples for dysphonia patients were used. In this study, we combined sustained vowel samples and connected speech samples using the Praat software to make the concatenated samples for implementing acoustic analysis and auditory perceptual assessments. For acoustic analysis, we analyzed each value of CPP, CPPs, AVQI, and ABI. For auditory perceptual assessments, three speech language pathologists evaluated dysphonia severity from the concatenated samples. Finally, we performed a stepwise multiple regression analysis to verify which combination of the four acoustic parameters could best predict perceived dysphonia severity based on the DME. ResultsDME was found to have high reliability for auditory perceptual assessments measuring dysphonia severity and there was a significant correlation between DME and four acoustic parameters. Finally, a two-variable model (AVQI and ABI) was useful for predicting perceived dysphonia severity based on the DME. ConclusionsWe verified the usefulness of DME scales in judging the dysphonia severity of dysphonic patients when used with acoustic analysis. Also, two-variable model was a useful to predict perceived dysphonia severity based on the DME.