The usefulness of multi voice evaluation: Development of a model for predicting a degree of dysphonia

J Voice. 2023 Jan;37(1):142.e5-142.e12. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2020.10.020. Epub 2020 Nov 14.

Abstract

Objectives: The purposes of this study were (1) to analyze the usefulness of self-report questionnaires, acoustic analysis, and auditory perceptual assessment for screening voice problems; and (2) to develop a new model for predicting a comprehensive voice severity using multi-assessment.

Methods: A total of 306 voice samples were analyzed in this study (typical group, n = 72; dysphonia group, n = 234). We performed a receiver operating characteristic analysis to determine the cutoff values of auditory perceptual assessments (visual analog scale), acoustic parameters (spectral- and cepstral-based analyses), and self-report questionnaires for screening voice disorders. We also performed a stepwise multiple regression analysis to verify which combination of parameters (acoustic parameters, and self-report questionnaires) could best predict perceived voice severity.

Results: We verified that most of the variables analyzed were useful for voice evaluation, and found to be useful for screening voice problems. Of these, a five-variable model was a useful to predict perceived voice severity (mean R2 = .807). The five-variable model consisted of acoustic parameters based on cepstral analysis (cepstral peak prominences in connected speech and sustained vowel task, and low versus high-frequency spectral energy ratio in connected speech task) and self-report questionnaires (total score of the Voice Handicap Index, and rumination score of the Voice Catastrophization Index).

Conclusion: We verified that most of the variables were useful for screening dysphonia and five-variable model was a useful to predict perceived voice severity. The five-variable model could be used as an objective criterion for predicting voice severity.

Keywords: Multi-assessment–Predicting voice severity–Voice disorder.

MeSH terms

  • Acoustics
  • Dysphonia* / diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Speech
  • Speech Acoustics
  • Speech Production Measurement
  • Voice*