Voice Survey Research Articles

Automated Voice Biomarkers for Depression Symptoms Using an Online Cross-Sectional Data Collection Initiative

Importance: Depression is an illness affecting a large percentage of the world's population throughout the lifetime. To date, there is no available biomarker for depression and detection and tracking of symptoms relies on patient self-report. Objective: To explore and validate features extracted from recorded voice samples of depressed subjects as digital biomarkers for suicidality, psychomotor retardation, and depression severity. Design: We conducted a cross-sectional study over the course of 12 months using a frequently visited web form version of the PHQ9 hosted by Mental Health America (MHA) to ask subjects for anonymous voice samples via a separate web form hosted by NeuroLex Laboratories. Subjects were asked to provide demographics, answers to the PHQ9, and two voice samples. Setting: Online only. Participants: Users of the MHA website. Main Outcomes and Measures: Performance of statistical models using extracted voice features to predict psychomotor retardation, suicidality, and depression severity as indicated by the PHQ9. Results: Voice features extracted from recorded audio of depressed subjects were able to predict PHQ9 question 9 and total scores with an area under the curve of 0.85 and a mean absolute error of 4.7, respectively. Psychomotor retardation prediction was less powerful with an area under the curve of 0.61. Conclusion and Relevance: Automated voice analysis using short recordings of patient speech may be used to augment depression screen and symptom management. Funding Statement: Funding for this study was provided by NeuroLex Laboratories, Inc. Funding supported study staff time only and there were no honoraria provided to participants. Our study partner, Mental Health America, provided depression survey and demographic data in addition to directing users to the voice survey. Declaration of Interests: The authors have no conflicts to disclose except for: Dr. Hosseini Ghomi is a stockholder of NeuroLex Laboratories, Inc. Ethics Approval Statement: Ethical oversight of the study was provided by the Western Institutional Review Board (WIRB #1174369). Subjects who participated were required to complete an online consent process.

My Migraine Voice survey: a global study of disease burden among individuals with migraine for whom preventive treatments have failed

BackgroundMigraine is associated with many debilitating symptoms that affect daily functioning. My Migraine Voice is a large global cross-sectional study aimed at understanding the full burden and impact of migraine directly from patients suffering from ≥4 monthly migraine days (MMDs) with a history of prophylactic treatment failure.MethodsThis study was conducted worldwide (31 countries across North and South Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Northern Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region) using an online survey administered to adults with migraine who reported ≥4 MMDs in the 3 months preceding survey administration, with pre-specified criteria of 90% having used preventive migraine treatment (80% with history of ≥1 treatment failure). Prophylactic treatment failure was defined as a reported change in preventive medication by individuals with migraine for any reason, at least once.ResultsIn total, 11,266 individuals participated in the survey. Seventy-four percent of the participants reported spending time in darkness/isolation due to migraine (average: 19 h/month). While 85% of all respondents reported negative aspects of living with migraine (feeling helpless, depressed, not understood), sleeping difficulties (83%), and fear of the next attack (55%), 57% shared ≥1 positive aspect (learning to cope, becoming a stronger person). Forty-nine percent reported feeling limited in daily activities throughout all migraine phases. Migraine impact on professional, private, or social domains was reported by 87% of respondents (51% in all domains). In the previous 12 months, 38% of respondents had visited the emergency department (average: 3.3 visits), whereas 23% stayed in hospital overnight (average: 3.2 nights) due to migraine.ConclusionsThe burden of migraine is substantial among this cohort of individuals with at least 4 migraine days per month and for whom at least 1 preventive migraine treatment had failed. Interestingly, respondents reported some positive aspects in their migraine journey; the greater resilience and strength brought on by coping with migraine suggests that if future treatments could address existing unmet needs, these individuals with migraine will be able to maximize their contribution to society.

The burden of migraine in Belgium: results from the My Migraine Voice Survey.

The burden of migraine in Belgium: results from the My Migraine Voice Survey.

Facilitating Chinese EFL Learners’ Critical Thinking Skills: The Contributions of Teaching Strategies

Many teaching strategies have been used to promote the development of critical thinking skills, among which the most frequently used are group discussion, concept mapping, and analytical questioning. The study aims to explore learners’ voice and learning experience in the pedagogical contributions of these strategies to the development of critical thinking skills in Chinese EFL (English as a Foreign Language) learners. One full university class was chosen as the sample in the instruction of critical thinking skills and to take part in a learner voice survey, among which 15 participants were chosen by purposeful sampling for semistructured interviews. The instruction of critical thinking was embedded in an English reading class by using the three teaching strategies, during which four interviews were conducted for each critical thinking skill. After the instruction of critical thinking skills was completed, all participants were surveyed with the learner voice questionnaire. The results show that participants thought the three teaching strategies could improve critical thinking skills. Each teaching strategy made unique and specific contributions to the development of critical thinking skills. These findings have pedagogical implications for using these teaching strategies in the instruction of critical thinking skills in Chinese EFL learners.

The role of the maxillary sinus on the voice.

The objective of the study was to determine the effect of the maxillary sinus on the voice. The prospective study was conducted at an academic secondary referral center. A prospective chart review of 43 patients (17 males, 26 females) who conducted a voice recording and survey before and 3 months after middle meatal antrostomy whose lesion was confined to the maxillary sinus. Subjective voice changes were surveyed using a questionnaire. After phonation [∧m ma: the Korean pronunciation of 'mother'], [Nu Na: the Korean pronunciation of 'sister'], we analyzed the nasal consonant [m] of [∧m ma] and nasalized vowel [a] of [∧m ma] and [a] of [Nu Na]. In the poll conducted, the change rates for males and females were 41.1 % (7/17) and 15.4 % (4/26), respectively; of the male patients, 85.7 % (6/7) felt that the sound quality was better and 14.3 % (1/6) that it was worse. However, all the female patients felt it was better. Among of the patients with an improved voice, reduced nasal sound was the most frequent observation. In an objective analysis, a tendency to lowered frequencies was observed for nasalized vowels after surgery. Significant differences were observed at second formant frequencies of [a] of [∧m ma] and first formant frequencies of [a] of [Nu Na] in female subjects (P < 0.005). Our findings indicated that the maxillary sinus plays a role in the modification of voice quality. Preoperative counseling is important for patients concerning expected changes in the voice after maxillary sinus surgery.

The Prevalence of Laryngeal Pathologies in an Academic Population

The main purposes of the present study were to determine the prevalence of laryngeal pathology and voice disorders and to identify their associated risk factors among the workers, teachers, and nonteachers, from a Portuguese university. Cross-sectional study. A total of 101 participants have volunteered to participate in a voice survey. Data were collected using a questionnaire followed by the diagnosis of laryngeal pathology based on the videolaryngoscopic examination conducted by experienced otolaryngologists. The mean age of the participants was 43years. Nearly half of the sample had a diagnosis of pathology, with functional disorders being the most frequent laryngeal pathology. None of the demographic, behavioral, and occupational factors analyzed were statistically associated with laryngeal pathology. Although university teachers do not have an increased risk of laryngeal pathology, self-perceived voice disorders were more prevalent in teachers than in nonteachers. Vocal effort and the number of years teaching have a significant effect on voice disorders prevalence among teachers. Voice disorders have a higher rate of occurrence among university teachers. Demands of teaching, like vocal effort and years of teaching, and not other demographic and/or behavioral factors, are the risk factors that increase the rate of occurrence of voice disorders among the university teachers. Risk factors that predispose to laryngeal pathology were not detected in the present study. However, the high prevalence of functional laryngeal pathologies underlines the importance of further investigation toward this type of laryngeal pathology in this academic population.

Traumatic brain injury: Lower cranial nerves palsy

Three patients, 16 to 20 years, suffered a head injury, presented a multiple cranial nerve impairment, confirmed 18.7 ± 4.5 days after admission. All underwent ventilation and enteral nutrition for severe swallowing disorders. Etiology is peripheral (2 traumatic Collet-Sicard syndrome : constellation of cranial nerves palsies due to a lesion at jugular foramen (IX, X, XI) with adjonction to XII) or central (brain stem contusion). Swallowing and voice survey at 1 year is favorable. Conclusion

The Interest-Driven Pursuits of 15 Year Olds: “Sparks” and Their Association With Caring Relationships and Developmental Outcomes

In this study, we examined the characteristics of adolescents’ deep interests or “sparks,” the role of relationships in supporting the development of sparks, and whether having a spark was associated with positive developmental outcomes. Participants included 1,860 15 years olds from across the United States who participated in the national Teen Voice survey (56% European American, N = 1,860). Profile-centered analyses suggested that sparks are characterized by the intensity of positive feelings, immersion, and utility. The strongest sparks were associated with pursuits requiring more interpersonal engagement, such as sports, drama and dance, participating in politics, and serving others. Spark intensity was related to better social, academic, and affective outcomes. Additionally, youth with stronger sparks reported more encouragement, financial support, and transportation to spark activities from parents, mentors, extended-family, neighbors, school-based adults, and peers. Benefits of adolescents’ engagement in interest-driven activities and the role of caring relationships in supporting such interests are highlighted.

Customized-Language Voice Survey on Mobile Devices for Text and Image Data Collection Among Ethnic Groups in Thailand: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

BackgroundPublic health surveys are often conducted using paper-based questionnaires. However, many problems are associated with this method, especially when collecting data among ethnic groups who speak a different language from the survey interviewer. The process can be time-consuming and there is the risk of missing important data due to incomplete surveys.ObjectiveThis study was conducted as a proof-of-concept to develop a new electronic tool for data collection, and compare it with standard paper-based questionnaire surveys using the research setting of assessing Knowledge Attitude and Practice (KAP) toward the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) among 6 ethnic groups in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. The two data collection methods were compared on data quality in terms of data completeness and time consumed in collecting the information. In addition, the initiative assessed the participants’ satisfaction toward the use of a smartphone customized-language voice-based questionnaire in terms of perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness.MethodsFollowing a cross-over design, all study participants were interviewed using two data collection methods after a one-week washout period. Questions in the paper-based questionnaires in Thai language were translated to each ethnic language by the interviewer/translator when interviewing the study participant. The customized-language voice-based questionnaires were programmed to a smartphone tablet in six, selectable dialect languages and used by the trained interviewer when approaching participants.ResultsThe study revealed positive data quality outcomes when using the smartphone, voice-based questionnaire survey compared with the paper-based questionnaire survey, both in terms of data completeness and time consumed in data collection process. Since the smartphone questionnaire survey was programmed to ask questions in sequence, no data was missing and there were no entry errors. Participants had positive attitudes toward answering the smartphone questionnaire; 69% (48/70) reported they understood the questions easily, 71% (50/70) found it convenient, and 66% (46/70) reported a reduced time in data collection. The smartphone data collection method was acceptable by both the interviewers and by the study participants of different ethnicities.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first study showing that the application of specific features of mobile devices like smartphone tablets (including dropdown choices, capturing pictures, and voiced questions) can be successfully used for data collection. The mobile device can be effectively used for capturing photos of secondary data and collecting primary data with customized-language and voiced questionnaire survey. Using smartphone questionnaires can minimize or eliminate missing data and reduce the time consumed during the data collection process. Smartphone customized-language, voice-based questionnaires for data collection can be an alternative and better approach than standard translated paper-based questionnaires for public health surveys, especially when collecting data among ethnic and hard-to-reach groups residing in multilanguage-speaking settings.

How prepared are you for the new primary curriculum?

What areas of the new primary core curriculum are schools most prepared for and where do they feel least confident? Elizabeth Pope looks at the findings from NFER's latest Teacher Voice survey.

Overcoming challenges to screening and brief intervention implementation with technology: the promise of interactive voice response systems

While the efficacy of screening and brief intervention (SBI) is supported by multiple clinical trials, routine delivery of SBI is hampered by complex factors, both individual and systemic. An alternative to the traditional in-office approach to SBI holds promise as a way of broadening its reach. The purpose of this study is to share our experience using interactive voice response (IVR) technology to deliver and augment SBI in primary care. We draw on experience from a 12-year program of research in this area, summarizing results from prior studies and describing a new trial currently underway. Questions regarding the nature of IVR; how it works; why it might be a helpful modality for fostering, delivering, and/or augmenting SBI; and how others can embark on IVR research are addressed. We provide a brief overview of the IVR applications we have employed in alcohol research, a description of some methodological challenges we encountered in a prior SBI trial, and how these experiences led us to develop our current IVR-based SBI program. We cover technicalities of developing IVR applications and issues of their implementation in research. Interactive voice response is a feasible modality for delivering assessment and advice about drinking. The technology required for implementation is accessible to researchers and clinicians who do not necessarily have specialized training or expertise. Although this technology offers several advantages, including patient comfort with disclosure of personal information and widespread access and availability, it has downsides as well. For example, refusal and noncompliance can be higher than in other modalities. A small body of research suggests that process variables such as interviewer voice characteristics, survey length, and questionnaire-item format may influence consent to participate and compliance with IVR surveys and interventions.

Adolescent quality of life and satisfaction with care

Purpose 1) To describe adolescents’ responses to a client satisfaction and family-centered care survey; 2) to examine the relationship between satisfaction with health care and health-related quality of life (HRQL) among these adolescents; and 3) to determine if adolescents and their parents differ in their satisfaction with services. Methods We recruited 104 adolescents who attended the Alberta Children’s Hospital pediatric neurology clinic. Each family completed the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ), the Family Centered Care Survey (FCCS), the Measure of Processes of Care (MPOC) survey, the Give Youth a Voice (GYV) survey, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). Results Of 116 eligible families, 104 (90%) completed the study. The majority (83%) of adolescents were satisfied with services provided. Adolescents who were very satisfied on the CSQ and the FCCS had higher PedsQL psychosocial scores ( p = .009 and .013, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that adolescents’ psychosocial HRQL was the most significant predictor of their satisfaction with care (odds ratio [OR] 1.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01 to 1.06). There was a difference between parents’ and adolescents’ responses to the FCCS ( p = .02), with adolescents being less satisfied overall. Conclusions Given that adolescents and parents differ in their satisfaction with health care, it is helpful to have direct input from adolescents on health services surveys. The positive relationship between adolescents’ psychosocial HRQL and satisfaction with care highlights the potential impact of emotional health on subjective rating of services. Further studies should determine if improvement in adolescents’ mental health is associated with greater satisfaction with health care and/or increased adherence with medical treatments.