Surveying Colombian Speech-Language Pathologists on their Reported Training & Practices of Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice

Objective: To explore the training and use of auditory perceptual evaluation of the voice reported by Colombian speech-language pathologists. Study Design: Cross-sectional observational research with a quantitative approach. Methods: A digital questionnaire was designed and distributed to gather information regarding professionals' training process and implementation of auditory-perceptual evaluation procedures. Descriptive statistics were applied, and several generalized linear models were adjusted to determine the influence of certain variables on others. Results: The survey received responses from 40 speech-language pathologists, revealing that the most used scales for training and evaluating vocal quality within this group are direct magnitude estimations (82.5% and 77.5%). Similarly, in this group, the tasks most frequently used to train and use as an evaluation strategy are vowel assessments (38%) followed by spontaneous speech (30%). Practitioners of this group were mostly trained using a conceptual framework involving multiple exposures to rating (42.5%). The use of direct magnitude estimation in training with a normal voice showed significance (p = 0.015), as did the use of the vowel /i/ in training with an equal-appearing interval (p = 0.013). The statistical models relating the scale used to the scale on which participants were trained were also significant (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The GRBAS scale is the training tool most used by the group of speech-language pathologists of the study group in Colombia. Future efforts should focus on improving training practices for auditory-perceptual evaluation, exploring alternative conceptual frameworks, and incorporating external references to enhance validity and reliability.

Objetivo: Explorar los reportes de fonoaudiólogos colombianos acerca del entrenamiento y uso de la evaluación perceptual auditiva de la voz. Diseño de estudio: Se eligió un diseño de investigación observacional transversal con un enfoque cuantitativo. Metodología: Se diseñó y distribuyó un cuestionario digital para recopilar información sobre el proceso de formación de los profesionales y la implementación de procedimientos de evaluación perceptual auditiva. Se aplicaron estadísticas descriptivas y se ajustaron varios modelos lineales generalizados para determinar la influencia de ciertas variables en otras. Resultados: La encuesta recibió respuestas de 40 fonoaudiólogos, revelando que las escalas más utilizadas para la formación y la evaluación de la calidad vocal en el grupo son las estimaciones de magnitud directa (82.5% y 77.5%). Del mismo modo, en este grupo las tareas más frecuentemente utilizadas para la formación y el uso como estrategia de evaluación son las vocales (38%), seguidas por el habla espontánea (30%). La mayoría de los profesionales del grupo fueron formados utilizando un marco conceptual que involucra múltiples exposiciones a la calificación (42.5%). El uso de la estimación de magnitud directa en la formación con una voz normal mostró significancia (p = 0.015), al igual que el uso de la vocal /i/ en la formación con intervalos de igual apariencia (p = 0.013). Los modelos estadísticos que relacionan la escala utilizada con la escala en la que los participantes fueron entrenados también fueron significativos (p < 0.05). Conclusiones: La escala GRBAS es la herramienta de formación más utilizada por el grupo de fonoaudiólogos del estudio. Los esfuerzos futuros deberían centrarse en mejorar las prácticas de formación para la evaluación perceptual auditiva, explorar marcos conceptuales alternativos e incorporar referencias externas para mejorar la validez y la confiabilidad.

Does the Accuracy of Medical Diagnoses Affect Novice Listeners' Auditory-Perceptual Judgments of Dysphonia Severity?

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: To determine whether the presence and accuracy of a laryngeal medical diagnosis affects novice listeners' judgments of dysphonia. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, within subjects, modified factorial experimental design. METHODS: Twenty-six speakers with dysphonia and four normophonic speakers provided speech recordings. Forty novice clinicians evaluated speech samples for roughness and breathiness using 100-mm visual analog scales in two conditions. First, speech samples were presented without diagnostic information. In the second condition, 50% of the speech samples were presented with the accurate laryngeal medical diagnosis, while the other 50% of samples were presented with an inaccurate (alternative) diagnosis. RESULTS: Results showed that judgments of dysphonia were affected by the presence of both accurate and inaccurate diagnoses. As expected, when compared to no known diagnosis, judgments of roughness significantly increased in severity when an accurate diagnostic label of vocal fold lesions was presented. Likewise, in comparison to no known diagnosis, judgments of breathiness trended toward an increase in severity when an accurate diagnostic label of vocal fold paralysis/paresis was presented. Interestingly, increases in perceived severity of dysphonia were also observed with the presentation of inaccurate diagnoses, with the overall effect of inaccurate diagnostic information being greater than accurate diagnoses. Specifically, increases in perceived roughness and breathiness were observed when inaccurate diagnoses included benign vocal fold lesion(s) and vocal fold paralysis/paresis. In contrast, inaccurate diagnostic labels indicating "clear larynx" or diagnoses other than benign vocal fold lesion(s) or paralysis/paresis resulted in decreased perceived roughness and breathiness severity. The magnitude of the differences in perceived severity between conditions was overall reduced for breathiness compared to roughness. CONCLUSIONS: Sources of bias such as knowledge and accuracy of medical diagnoses should be considered when novice clinicians use auditory-perceptual measures to evaluate dysphonia and measure treatment outcomes.

Vocal Parameters and Self-Perception in Individuals With Adductor Spasmodic Dysphonia.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to compare and correlate perceptual-auditory analysis of vocal parameters and self-perception in individuals with adductor spasmodic dysphonia before and after the application of botulinum toxin. STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective cohort study. METHODS: Sixteen individuals with a diagnosis of adductor spasmodic dysphonia were submitted to the application of botulinum toxin in the thyroarytenoid muscle, to the recording of a voice signal, and to the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) questionnaire before the application and at two time points after application. Two judges performed a perceptual-auditory analysis of eight vocal parameters with the aid of the Praat software for the visualization of narrow band spectrography, pitch, and intensity contour. RESULTS: Comparison of the vocal parameters before toxin application and on the first return revealed a reduction of oscillation intensity (P = 0.002), voice breaks (P = 0.002), and vocal tremor (P = 0.002). The same parameters increased on the second return. The degree of severity, strained-strangled voice, roughness, breathiness, and asthenia was unchanged. The total score and the emotional domain score of the VHI were reduced on the first return. There was a moderate correlation between the degree of voice severity and the total VHI score before application and on the second return, and a weak correlation on the first return. CONCLUSIONS: Perceptual-auditory analysis and self-perception proved to be efficient in the recognition of vocal changes and of the vocal impact on individuals with adductor spasmodic dysphonia under treatment with botulinum toxin, permitting the quantitation of changes along time.