Multiparameter voice assessment for voice disorder patients: a correlation analysis between objective and subjective parameters

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish a multiparameter voice assessment profile using objective multiparameter test and subjective voice quality assessment.

Methods: We assessed 50 patients with voice disorders before and after operation. The assessment incorporates (1) subjective voice quality assessment, (2) patients' self-assessment, and (3) objective acoustic analysis. The subjective voice quality assessment uses GRABS system to evaluates the grade of hoarseness (G), proposed by the Japanese Society for Logopedics and Phoniatrics. Patients' self-assessment is modified based on the Chinese version of voice handicap index (VHI) scale, composed of functional (F), physiological (P), emotional (E) part, and a total score (T). The acoustical analysis evaluate the patients' voice sample by voice analysis software "Dr. Speech". Three parameters, jitter (J), shimmer(S), and normalized noise energy (NNE), were taken in analysis.

Results: We observed high correlations among subentries F, P, and the total score TvH of the VHI scale in patients' subjective assessment. Parameter E does not correlate well with other assessed parameters. The Chinese version of VHI, which incorporate multifactors including age, education, and especially the cultural difference may account for the inconsistent correction in parameter E. In the objective acoustic analysis, high correlation among the three parameters J, S, and NNE is observed.

Conclusion: Systemic assessment combining a subjective voice quality assessment, an objective acoustic analysis, and a self-assessment is helpful in clinical practice in the diagnosis and treatment for voice disorders. The E component in VHI scale assessment may not be a reliable parameter to evaluate treatment outcome.

Keywords: Acoustic analysis; Self-assessment; Subjective voice quality assessment; Voice disorder.