Development of the Digital Speech Assessment Instrument.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop a Digital Speech Assessment Instrument to evaluate the phonological and motor speech skills of Brazilian Portuguese-speaking children and adolescents through six tasks: (a) word naming, (b) word imitation, (c) pseudoword imitation, (d) word repetition, (e) pseudoword repetition, and (f) diadochokinesis. METHOD: The assessment instrument was developed and validated in a seven-step process, beginning with stimulus selection and ending with Pilot Study 1 (involving children and adolescents with typical speech development) and Pilot Study 2 (involving children and adolescents with speech sound disorders [SSDs]). Participants of the study included expert and nonexpert judges, children, and adolescents. RESULTS: The Digital Speech Assessment Instrument contains 91 real words (61 in the naming task, 51 in the imitation task, and five in the repetition task), 26 pseudowords (26 in the imitation task and four in the repetition task), and six stimuli for diadochokinesis. The test contains stimuli in the form of images as well as audio and video recordings and allows for the analysis and storage of participant data in a virtual database. CONCLUSIONS: This study described the development of the Digital Speech Assessment Instrument, available in Brazilian Portuguese for the evaluation of several aspects of speech production (including word and pseudoword naming, imitation, and repetition and diadochokinesis). The test was developed for children aged 2;0 (years;months) to 17;11 and is administered fully online. In the future, the instrument can be used to provide a timely and accurate diagnosis of SSDs.

Evidence of validity and reliability of the Compressed Speech Test with Figures. / Evidências de validade e fidedignidade do Teste de Fala Comprimida com Figuras.

PURPOSE: To seek evidence of validity and reliability for the Compressed Speech Test with Figures. METHODS: The study was subdivided into three stages: construct validation, criteria and reliability. All participants were aged between 6:00 and 8:11. For the construct, Compressed Speech with Figures and the gold standard Adapted Compressed Speech test were applied to children with typical phonological development. For criterion analysis, Compressed Speech with Figures was applied in two groups, with typical (G1) and atypical (G2) phonological development. Finally, the application protocols underwent analysis by two Speech Therapists, with experience in the area of Central Auditory Processing, seeking to obtain an inter-evaluator reliability analysis. RESULTS: The correlation test indicated an almost perfect construct (correlation 0.843 for the right ear and 0.823 for the left ear). In the criterion analysis, it was noticed that both groups presented satisfactory results (G1 = 99.6 to 100%; G2 = 96 to 96.5%). The reliability analysis demonstrated that the protocol is easy to analyze, as both professionals presented unanimous responses. CONCLUSION: It was possible to obtain evidence of validity and reliability for the Compressed Speech with Figures instrument. The construct analysis showed that the instrument measures the same variable as the gold standard test, with an almost perfect correlation. In the criterion analysis, both groups presented similar performance, demonstrating that the instrument does not seem to differentiate populations with and without mild phonological disorder. The inter-evaluator reliability analysis demonstrated that the protocol is easy to analyze and score.

OBJETIVO: Buscar evidências de validade e fidedignidade para o Teste de Fala Comprimida com Figuras. MÉTODO: O estudo foi subdividido em três etapas: validação de construto, critério e fidedignidade. Todos os participantes tinham idade entre 6:00 e 8:11. Para o construto, aplicou-se o Fala Comprimida com Figuras e o teste padrão ouro Fala Comprimida Adaptado em crianças com desenvolvimento fonológico típico. Para análise de critério, aplicou-se o Fala Comprimida com Figuras em dois grupos, com desenvolvimento fonológico típico (G1) e atípico (G2). Por fim, os protocolos de aplicação passaram pela análise de duas Fonoaudiólogas, com experiência na área do Processamento Auditivo Central, buscando obter uma análise de fidedignidade interavaliadores. RESULTADOS: O teste de correlação indicou um construto quase perfeito (Rho=0,843 para orelha direita e Rho=0,823 para orelha esquerda). Na análise de critério, percebeu-se que ambos os grupos apresentaram resultados satisfatórios (G1 = 99,6 a 100%; G2 = 96 a 96,5%). Já a análise de fidedignidade demonstrou que o protocolo é de fácil análise, pois ambos os profissionais apresentaram respostas unânimes. CONCLUSÃO: Foi possível obter evidências de validade e fidedignidade para o instrumento de Fala Comprimida com Figuras. A análise de construto evidenciou que o instrumento mede a mesma variável que o teste padrão outro, com correlação quase perfeita. Na análise de critério, ambos os grupos apresentaram desempenho semelhante, demonstrando que o instrumento não parece diferenciar populações com e sem transtorno fonológico leve. A análise de fidedignidade interavaliador demonstrou que o protocolo é de fácil análise e pontuação.

Content validity of the Profiles of Early Expressive Phonological Skills-Brazilian Portuguese (PEEPS-BP) - Expanded List. / Validade de conteúdo do Profiles of Early Expressive Phonological Skills-Brazilian Portuguese (PEEPS-BP) - Lista Expandida.

PURPOSE: To carry out the cross-cultural adaptation of the Instrument Profiles of Early Expressive Phonological Skills- Brazilian Portuguese (PEEPS-BP) - Expanded list, performing content validation. METHODS: Cross-cultural, quantitative and cross- sectional adaptation study, considering psychometric criteria. A study was carried out on the list of 423 words from the Communicative Development Inventory - MacArthur - Words and Sentences, adapted to Brazilian Portuguese. The method was divided into four steps. The list was judged by expert judges (JE) and non-specialist judges (JNE), considering as a criterion the familiarity of the word for a child aged between 24 and 36 months, and the representativeness of the word with toy/object, contemplating Steps 1 and 2. The child judges analyzed, in a data collection situation, the familiarity and representativeness of the stimulus-words, presented in Step 3. Afterwards, the pilot study - Step 4, was carried out with the selected stimulus-words. In the statistical analysis by expert and non-specialist judges, the Fleiss' Kappa and Gwet Concordance index was used. In the analysis of the responses of the child judges and in the Pilot Study, the analysis was made in relation to the type of response of the child, specifically scoring the spontaneous naming of the toy/object, scoring qualitatively. RESULTS: The result of Steps 1 and 2, and the agreement of the statistical tests for the Familiarity and Representativeness criteria was 45.7% for JE and 76.4% for JNE, and a result of 100% for the agreement of Representativeness. A total of 122 words were analyzed, resulting from previously established criteria, totaling 34 words (exclusion of one word by the researchers), totaling 33 stimulus-words. In Stage 3, of the 33 stimulus-words applied, nine presented spontaneous naming scores below expectations, being retested for Step 4, the Pilot Study. The result of the Pilot Study showed that of the nine retested stimulus-words, four of them still had a score below, being excluded from the study. Therefore, with the application of the Pilot Study, the expanded list of PEEPS-BP resulted in 29 words. CONCLUSION: The PEEPS-BP - Expanded List showed satisfactory evidence of content validity for the cross-cultural adaptation of the test.

OBJETIVO: Realizar a adaptação transcultural do Instrumento Profiles of Early Expressive Phonological Skills- Brazilian Portuguese (PEEPS-BP) - Lista expandida, realizando a validação de conteúdo. MÉTODO: Estudo de adaptação transcultural, quantitativo e transversal, considerando critérios psicométricos. Realizou-se o estudo da lista de 423 palavras do Inventário de Desenvolvimento Comunicativo- MacArthur- Palavras e Sentenças, adaptado para o Português Brasileiro. O método foi dividido em quatro Etapas. A lista foi julgada por juízes especialistas (JE) e juízes não especialistas (JNE), considerando como critério a familiaridade da palavra para uma criança entre 24 e 36 meses, e a representatividade da palavra com brinquedo/objeto, contemplando as Etapas 1 e 2. Os juízes crianças analisaram, em situação de coleta de dados, a familiaridade e a representatividade das palavras-estímulos, apresentado na Etapa 3. Após, realizou-se o estudo piloto- Etapa 4, com as palavras-estímulo selecionadas. Na análise estatística dos juízes especialistas e não especialistas utilizou-se o índice de Concordância do Kappa Fleiss e Gwet. Na análise das respostas dos juízes crianças e no estudo piloto, a análise foi feita em relação ao tipo de resposta da criança, especificamente pontuando a nomeação espontânea do brinquedo/objeto, pontuando de forma qualitativa. RESULTADOS: O resultado da Etapa 1 e 2, e a concordância dos testes estatísticos para os critérios de Familiaridade e Representatividade foi de 45,7% para JE e 76,4% para JNE, e resultado de 100% para a concordância da Representatividade. Foram analisadas 122 palavras, resultantes dos critérios previamente estabelecidos, totalizando 34 palavras (exclusão de uma palavra por parte das pesquisadoras), totalizando 33 palavras-estímulos. Na Etapa 3, das 33 palavras-estímulos aplicadas, nove apresentaram pontuação de nomeação espontânea abaixo do esperado, sendo retestadas para a Etapa 4, Estudo Piloto. O resultado do Estudo Piloto evidenciou que das nove palavras-estímulos retestadas, quatro delas ainda apresentaram pontuação abaixo, sendo excluídas do estudo. Portanto com a aplicação do estudo piloto a lista expandida do PEEPS-BP, resultou em 29 palavras. CONCLUSÃO: O PEEPS-BP - Lista Expandida apresentou evidências de validade de conteúdo satisfatórias para a adaptação transcultural do teste.

The word-with-noise test: development, validation and reference values. / Teste de palavras no ruído: desenvolvimento, validação e valores de referência.

PURPOSE: To propose an instrument for assessing speech recognition in the presence of competing noise. To define its application strategy for use in clinical practice. To obtain evidence of criterion validity and present reference values. METHODS: The study was conducted in three stages: Organization of the material comprising the Word-with-Noise Test (Stage 1); Definition of the instrument's application strategy (Stage 2); Investigation of criterion validity and definition of reference values for the test (Stage 3) through the evaluation of 50 normal-hearing adult subjects and 12 subjects with hearing loss. RESULTS: The Word-with-Noise Test consists of lists of monosyllabic and disyllabic words and speech spectrum noise (Stage 1). The application strategy for the test was defined as the determination of the Speech Recognition Threshold with a fixed noise level at 55 dBHL (Stage 2). Regarding criterion validity, the instrument demonstrated adequate ability to distinguish between normal-hearing subjects and subjects with hearing loss (Stage 3). Reference values for the test were established as cut-off points expressed in terms of signal-to-noise ratio: 1.47 dB for the monosyllabic stimulus and -2.02 dB for the disyllabic stimulus. Conclusion: The Word-with-Noise Test proved to be quick to administer and interpret, making it a useful tool in audiological clinical practice. Furthermore, it showed satisfactory evidence of criterion validity, with established reference values.

OBJETIVO: Propor um instrumento para a avaliação do reconhecimento de fala na presença de ruído competitivo. Definir sua estratégia de aplicação, para ser aplicado na rotina clínica. Obter evidências de validade de critério e apresentar seus valores de referência. MÉTODO: Estudo realizado em três etapas: Organização do material que compôs o Teste de Palavras no Ruído (Etapa 1); Definição da estratégia de aplicação do instrumento (Etapa 2); Investigação da validade de critério e definição dos valores de referência para o teste (Etapa 3), por meio da avaliação de 50 sujeitos adultos normo-ouvintes e 12 sujeitos com perda auditiva. RESULTADOS: O Teste de Palavras no Ruído é composto por listas de vocábulos mono e dissilábicos e um ruído com espectro de fala (Etapa 1). Foi definida como estratégia de aplicação do teste, a realização do Limiar de Reconhecimento de Fala com ruído fixo em 55 dBNA (Etapa 2). Quanto à validade de critério, o instrumento apresentou adequada capacidade de distinção entre os sujeitos normo-ouvintes e os sujeitos com perda auditiva (Etapa 3). Foram definidos como valores de referência para o teste, os pontos de corte expressos em relação sinal/ruído de 1,47 dB para o estímulo monossilábico e de -2,02 dB para o dissilábico. CONCLUSÃO: O Teste de Palavras no Ruído demonstrou ser rápido e de fácil aplicação e interpretação dos resultados, podendo ser uma ferramenta útil a ser utilizada na rotina clínica audiológica. Além disso, apresentou evidências satisfatórias de validade de critério, com valores de referência estabelecidos.

Instrument to evaluate the perception of minimal contrasts in Chilean Sign Language - reliability evidence. / Instrumento de evaluación de la percepción de los contrastes mínimos en Lengua de Señas Chilena - evidencias de confiabilidad.

PURPOSE: Obtain evidence of the test reliability to evaluate the perception of minimum contrasts in Chilean Sign Language (LSCh). METHODS: Ten deaf children and adolescents aged between 7 and 14 years participated in this study. They were evaluated with the test of perception of minimal contrasts in LSCh. The test was reapplied 11 and 14 days after the first application (test-retest reliability). Spearman's Rho correlation was performed. During the first application, authorization was requested from the parents of the children and adolescents to record the responses of the participants so that another evaluator could re-score the protocols, in order to obtain inter-rater reliability. First-order agreement coefficient (AC1) Gwet's was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Test-retest obtained a strong and significant correlation (Rho= 0.741; p=0.014). The concordance values obtained inter-rater vary between 0.962 and 1 (p<0.001), indicating that the test presents almost perfect concordance. CONCLUSION: The minimum pairs perception test in LSCh presents satisfactory test-retest and inter-rater reliability.

OBJETIVO: Obtener evidencias de confiabilidad de la prueba para evaluar la percepción de los contrastes mínimos en Lengua de Señas Chilena (LSCh). MÉTODO: Participaron 10 niños y adolescentes Sordos con edades entre los 7 y 14 años, que fueron evaluados con la prueba de percepción de los contrastes mínimos en LSCh. En un primer momento se les aplicó la prueba, y entre 11 y 14 días después se les reaplicó nuevamente (confiabilidad test - retest). Para analizar los datos, fue realizada la correlación Rho de Spearman. Durante la primera aplicación se solicitó autorización a los padres de los niños y adolescentes para grabar las respuestas de los participantes para que otro evaluador pudiese repuntuar los protocolos, con el fin de obtener la confiabilidad interevaluador. Para el análisis de los datos se utilizó el cálculo estadístico first-order agreement coefficient (AC1) de Gwet. RESULTADOS: En la confiabilidad test - retest se obtuvo una correlación fuerte y significativa (Rho= 0,741; p=0,014). En la confiabilidad interevaluador, los valores de concordancia obtenidos varían entre 0,962 a 1 (p<0,001), indicando que la prueba presenta concordancia casi perfecta. CONCLUSIÓN: La prueba de percepción de pares de mínimos en LSCh presenta confiabilidad test - retest e interevaluador satisfactoria.

Development and validation of an experimental verbal Episodic Memory task in Spanish. / Desarrollo y validación de una tarea experimental de Memoria Episódica verbal en español.

PURPOSE: To develop and validate an experimental verbal episodic memory task in Spanish. METHODS: Six encoding blocks were elaborated, three deep and three superficial, each one with different demands of cognitive effort. The blocks were reviewed by four expert judges and tested in a pilot application. The agreement was assessed on whether the task allowed combined processing level and cognitive effort to be manipulated during incidental encoding of words, as well as clarity of instructions, examples, and workflow. RESULTS: Variables such as lexical availability, metrics, and strength of association were useful to differentiate the cognitive effort between each block. The judges agreed that the processing blocks allowed a combined manipulation of the level of processing and cognitive effort and that the instructions are precise. After the pilot, the participants agreed that the instructions, examples, and way of working were easy to understand and perform. CONCLUSION: The results provide evidence of validity related to the content for the proposed experimental task, thus becoming a viable alternative to consider in research aimed at identifying environmental factors that contribute to compensating the defects shown by episodic memory with age.

PROPÓSITO: Elaborar y validar una tarea experimental de memoria episódica verbal en español. MÉTODO: Se elaboraron seis bloques de codificación: tres profundos y tres superficiales, cado uno con distintas demandas de esfuerzo cognitivo. Los bloques fueron revisados por cuatro jueces expertos y examinados en una aplicación piloto. Se evaluó la concordancia respecto a si la tarea permitía manipular combinadamente el nivel de procesamiento y el esfuerzo cognitivo durante la codificación incidental de palabras, así como la claridad de las instrucciones, ejemplos y dinámica de trabajo. RESULTADOS: Variables como la disponibilidad léxica, metría y fuerza de asociación fueron útiles para diferenciar el esfuerzo cognitivo entre cada bloque. Los jueces concordaron que los bloques de procesamiento admiten una manipulación combinada del nivel de procesamiento y esfuerzo cognitivo y que las instrucciones son precisas. Luego del pilotaje, los participantes concordaron que las instrucciones, ejemplos y forma de trabajo eran fácil de comprender y realizar. CONCLUSIÓN: Los resultados proporcionan evidencia de validez relacionada con el contenido para la tarea experimental propuesta, transformándose con ello en una alternativa viable de considerar en investigaciones orientadas a identificar factores ambientales que contribuyan a compensar los defectos que muestra la memoria episódica con la edad.

The PraxiFala Battery: A diagnostic accuracy study.

PURPOSE: To present the sensitivity and specificity and establish cutoff points (receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curve) for the PraxiFala Battery. METHOD: The sample included 308 Brazilian-speaking children aged 3;0-7;11. Twenty-one children had motor speech disorders (MSD), 58 children had phonological disorder (PD), and 229 had typical speech (TS) development. Participants were administered the PraxiFala Battery, which contains verbal (word and sentence production), nonverbal (orofacial praxis), and diadochokinetic tasks. The sensitivity and specificity of items in each task were then calculated using ROC curves. RESULT: Total scores on the verbal (word production), nonverbal (orofacial praxis), and diadochokinetic tasks had good sensitivity and specificity. The only scores with poor sensitivity and specificity in differentiating between TS, PD, and MSD were consistency and prosody in the verbal tasks (sentence production), and item /ta/ in the diadochokinetic task. Area under the ROC curve (AUC) values were greater than 0.7 for most items in the comparison between TS vs. MSD and PD vs. MSD. AUC values were poor or fair among children with TS and PD, suggesting that this instrument may not be accurate in identifying these groups. CONCLUSION: The verbal, nonverbal, and diadochokinetic tasks in the PraxiFala Battery had good sensitivity and specificity.

Performance in the accuracy task in children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech after an integrated intervention of literacy and motor skills.

Difficult in literacy skills are often seen in children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). This occurs because oral language has direct relationship with reading and writing learning. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance in the accuracy task of an integrated phonoarticulatory awareness, motor skills and literacy intervention of three children with CAS. Three boys between 5;3 and 5;8 years of age, with CAS, were offered 2 hours per week of therapy sessions based on literacy and motor skills. The children were assessed before and after therapy and at a maintenance assessment 1 month after the treatment ceased. The children improved on the accuracy task considering their deficits level. Improvement was maintained at the maintenance assessment. Therapy based on literacy considering phonoarticulatory awareness and motor skills can help children with CAS, but the severity of the children's communication problems must be taken into consideration.

Mismatch negativity in older adults and its relationship with the cognitive and behavioral aspects of central auditory processing.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to describe and compare the performance of older adults with normal hearing and hearing impairments in mismatch negativity (MMN), correlate MMN with cognitive tasks and central auditory processing (CAP), and identify normal values for MMN in older adults. METHODS: This study had 54 participants. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was used to assess cognition and the random gap detection test (RGDT), dichotic digit test (DDT), and speech to noise (SN) test were used to evaluate CAP. MMN was elicited with the verbal stimulus /da/ (frequent) and /ta/ (rare), and the latency, amplitude, duration, and area were analyzed. RESULTS: When comparing the normal-hearing group to those with hearing loss, there was no significant difference in MMN. When correlating MMN with MoCA, RGDT, DDT, and the SN test, there was a weak correlation between the MMN amplitude and the RGDT and DDT. When comparing the MMN of participants with normal and altered cognitive aspects and those with normal and altered DDT, the MMN duration was found to be affected by the DDT. The mean latency value of the MMN in the normal-hearing group was 199.8 ms, the amplitude was -2.2 µV, area was 116.1 µV/ms, and duration was 81.2 ms. CONCLUSION: Mild hearing loss did not influence MMN. There was no correlation between MMN and cognitive aspects, and there were weak correlations with CAP. Alterations in CAP led to longer durations in MMN. Normal values for MMN in adults aged between 60 and 77 years were generated.

Development and Evidence of Content Validity of the Spectrographic Vocal Assessment Protocol (SVAP).

OBJECTIVE: To develop and seek evidence of content validity of a spectrographic vocal assessment protocol. METHODS: Methodological study for development and validation of an assessment instrument. A broad literature search was conducted to develop and substantiate a spectrographic vocal assessment protocol. The protocol items were sent to five expert judges, speech therapists, nonauthors of the research, doctors, and clinicians, with experience in the field of voice and spectrographic acoustic analysis, who individually analyzed the protocol items. For data analysis, the Gwet analysis and the Content Validity Ratio formula were used. RESULTS: The Spectrographic Vocal Assessment Protocol was developed, subdivided into Broadband and Narrowband. Twenty-four protocol items had Content Validity Ratio 1.0 and 25 items had 0.6. Gwet analysis indicated substantial agreement (0.656) for broadband and almost perfect (0.848) for narrowband items. CONCLUSION: Evidence of satisfactory content validity was obtained in the development of the protocol.

Dynamic Evaluation of Motor Speech Skill: Adaptation for Brazilian Portuguese.

PURPOSE: To describe the adaptation of verbal tasks (words) in the Dynamic Evaluation of Motor Speech Skills - DEMSS (Strand et al., 2013; Strand & McCauley, 2019) for subsequent inclusion in an analogous instrument in Brazilian Portuguese (BP). METHODS: The adaptation process consisted of six steps. Step 1: Three professionals carried out the translation and back-translation of the test's instructions and background content. Step 2: Two speech-language pathologists (SLP) with expertise in speech-language selected new stimuli for the instrument to make it appropriate for BP. Step 3: Seven expert judges determined the adequacy of test stimuli. Step 4: Eight non-expert judges, children with typical speech development, indicated whether the stimulus words were part of their vocabulary. Step 5: the instrument was administered in 20 children with typical speech development (pilot sample). The results of steps 3, 4 and 5 were examined using Content Validity Ratio. Step 6: Administration of the BP version of the DEMSS in one case of Childhood Apraxia Speech (CAS). RESULTS: 269 words were selected by the expert SLP (Step 2). These words were submitted to evaluation for expert judges (Step 3) and 96 of them were considered adequate. These items were then submitted to the child judges (Step 4) to evaluate their knowledge and use of the words, and in the pilot sample (Step 5) to evaluate the production accuracy of a larger group of children. A total of 44 words were selected after analysis of the results of Steps 4 and 5. In Step 6 the patient completed the final version of the BP version of the DEMSS to determine the feasibility of its use in young children with CAS. CONCLUSION: The translation, back-translation and evaluations by nativespeaking expert judges during the cross-cultural adaptation process and the application in one children with CAS demonstrate the content validity of the adapted instrument. Then, the BP version of the DEMSS has adequate content validity for the assessment of motor speech skills.

Spectrographic Vocal Assessment Protocol (SVAP): Reliability and Criterion Validity.

OBJECTIVE: To present evidence of the reliability and validity in the Spectrographic Vocal Assessment Protocol. METHODS: The sample consisted of 50 female participants, aged 25-62 years old, 24 with a otorhinolaryngological diagnosis of the normal larynx or posterior glottal gap, and 26 diagnosed with vocal fold disturbances. The emission of the vowel /a:/ was analyzed by the Real Time Spectrogram software. The spectrographs were analyzed with a protocol by two speech therapist judges. For reliability analysis, inter- and intrajudge analysis were performed using the Kendall coefficient. For criterion validity, the t test for matched samples with Bonferroni correction was used to compare the average performance of the protocol between the two groups of subjects. RESULTS: Protocol reliability: for broadband items, the agreement between judges ranged from moderate (0.462) to almost perfect (0.888), and it is significant for all items, and an intrajudge agreement was almost perfect and significant (0.865-1.000) for all items. For narrowband items, the agreement between judges ranged from moderate (0.469) to almost perfect (0.922), and it is significant for all items except for the presence of "subharmonics in high frequencies" where agreement was moderate (0.504), but not significant, and the intrajudge agreement was almost perfect (0.874-1.000) and significant for all items. Criterion validity: for most broadband and narrowband items, the groups with normal or altered diagnosis differed statistically. CONCLUSION: The Spectrographic Vocal Assessment Protocol presented adequate evidence in reliability and validity.

Acoustic and Physiological Voice Assessment And Maximum Phonation Time In Patients With Different Types Of Dysarthria.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the maximum phonation time of /a/, acoustic glottal source parameters, and physiological measures in patients with dysarthria. METHOD: Thirteen patients were classified according to dysarthria type and divided into functional profiles (hypofunctional, hyperfunctional, and mixed). Assessments of maximum phonation time of /a/, glottal source parameters, electroglottography, and nasometry were performed. Results were compared between groups using ANOVA and Tukey posthoc tests. RESULTS: The highest fundamental frequency differed significantly between groups, with the hyperfunctional profile showing higher values than the other participant groups. Reductions in the maximum phonation time of /a/ and alterations in acoustic glottal source parameters and electroglottography measures were observed in all groups, with no significant differences between them. The remaining measures did not differ between groups. CONCLUSION: The maximum phonation times for /a/ were reduced in all participant groups, suggesting air escape during phonation. The presence of alterations in several glottal source parameters in all participant groups is indicative of noise, tremor, and vocal instability. Lastly, the high fundamental frequency in patients with a hyperfunctional profile reinforces the presence of vocal instability. These findings suggest that, although the characteristics observed in the assessments were consistent with expectations of patients with dysarthria, it is difficult to perform a differential diagnosis of this condition based on acoustic and physiological parameters alone.

Clustering and switching in verbal fluency: a comparison between control and individuals with brain damage.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to analyze and compare the performance and strategies used by control subjects and patients with unilateral brain damage on phonemic and semantic Verbal Fluency tasks. METHODS: The sample consisted of 104 participants divided into four groups (26 with left hemisphere damage and aphasia- LHDa, 28 with left hemisphere damage and no aphasia- LHDna, 25 with right hemisphere damage- RHD and 25 neurologically healthy control subjects). All participants were administered the phonemic ("M" letter-based) and semantic (animals) verbal fluency tasks from the Montreal-Toulouse Language Assessment Battery (MTL-BR). RESULTS: Patients in the LHDa group showed the worst performance (fewer words produced, fewer clusters and switches) in both types of fluency task. RHD group showed fewer switching productions when compared with controls and LHDna had fewer words productions than controls in the first 30 seconds block. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the LHDa group obtained lower scores in most measures of SVF and PVF when compared to the other groups.

Brief Montreal-Toulouse Language Assessment Battery: adaptation and content validity.

BACKGROUND: Evaluating patients in the acute phase of brain damage allows for the early detection of cognitive and linguistic impairments and the implementation of more effective interventions. However, few cross-cultural instruments are available for the bedside assessment of language abilities. The aim of this study was to develop a brief assessment instrument and evaluate its content validity. METHODS: Stimuli for the new assessment instrument were selected from the M1-Alpha and MTL-BR batteries (Stage 1). Sixty-five images were redesigned and analyzed by non-expert judges (Stage 2). This was followed by the analysis of expert judges (Stage 3), where nine speech pathologists with doctoral training and experience in aphasiology and/or linguistics evaluated the images, words, nonwords, and phrases for inclusion in the instrument. Two pilot studies (Stage 4) were then conducted in order to identify any remaining errors in the instrument and scoring instructions. RESULTS: Sixty of the 65 figures examined by the judges achieved inter-rater agreement rates of at least 80%. Modifications were suggested to 22 images, which were therefore reanalyzed by the judges, who reached high levels of inter-rater agreement (AC1 = 0.98 [CI = 0.96-1]). New types of stimuli such as nonwords and irregular words were also inserted in the Brief Battery and favorably evaluated by the expert judges. Optional tasks were also developed for specific diagnostic situations. After the correction of errors detected in Stage 4, the final version of the instrument was obtained. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the content validity of the Brief MTL-BR Battery. The method used in this investigation was effective and can be used in future studies to develop brief instruments based on preexisting assessment batteries.

Correction to: Brief Montreal-Toulouse Language Assessment Battery: adaptation and content validity.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Teste de palavras no ruído: desenvolvimento, validação e valores de referência / The word-with-noise test: development, validation and reference values

RESUMO Objetivo Propor um instrumento para a avaliação do reconhecimento de fala na presença de ruído competitivo. Definir sua estratégia de aplicação, para ser aplicado na rotina clínica. Obter evidências de validade de critério e apresentar seus valores de referência. Método Estudo realizado em três etapas: Organização do material que compôs o Teste de Palavras no Ruído (Etapa 1); Definição da estratégia de aplicação do instrumento (Etapa 2); Investigação da validade de critério e definição dos valores de referência para o teste (Etapa 3), por meio da avaliação de 50 sujeitos adultos normo-ouvintes e 12 sujeitos com perda auditiva. Resultados O Teste de Palavras no Ruído é composto por listas de vocábulos mono e dissilábicos e um ruído com espectro de fala (Etapa 1). Foi definida como estratégia de aplicação do teste, a realização do Limiar de Reconhecimento de Fala com ruído fixo em 55 dBNA (Etapa 2). Quanto à validade de critério, o instrumento apresentou adequada capacidade de distinção entre os sujeitos normo-ouvintes e os sujeitos com perda auditiva (Etapa 3). Foram definidos como valores de referência para o teste, os pontos de corte expressos em relação sinal/ruído de 1,47 dB para o estímulo monossilábico e de -2,02 dB para o dissilábico. Conclusão O Teste de Palavras no Ruído demonstrou ser rápido e de fácil aplicação e interpretação dos resultados, podendo ser uma ferramenta útil a ser utilizada na rotina clínica audiológica. Além disso, apresentou evidências satisfatórias de validade de critério, com valores de referência estabelecidos.

ABSTRACT Purpose To propose an instrument for assessing speech recognition in the presence of competing noise. To define its application strategy for use in clinical practice. To obtain evidence of criterion validity and present reference values. Methods The study was conducted in three stages: Organization of the material comprising the Word-with-Noise Test (Stage 1); Definition of the instrument's application strategy (Stage 2); Investigation of criterion validity and definition of reference values for the test (Stage 3) through the evaluation of 50 normal-hearing adult subjects and 12 subjects with hearing loss. Results The Word-with-Noise Test consists of lists of monosyllabic and disyllabic words and speech spectrum noise (Stage 1). The application strategy for the test was defined as the determination of the Speech Recognition Threshold with a fixed noise level at 55 dBHL (Stage 2). Regarding criterion validity, the instrument demonstrated adequate ability to distinguish between normal-hearing subjects and subjects with hearing loss (Stage 3). Reference values for the test were established as cut-off points expressed in terms of signal-to-noise ratio: 1.47 dB for the monosyllabic stimulus and -2.02 dB for the disyllabic stimulus. Conclusion: The Word-with-Noise Test proved to be quick to administer and interpret, making it a useful tool in audiological clinical practice. Furthermore, it showed satisfactory evidence of criterion validity, with established reference values.

Evidências de validade e fidedignidade do Teste de Fala Comprimida com Figuras / Evidence of validity and reliability of the Compressed Speech Test with Figures

RESUMO Objetivo Buscar evidências de validade e fidedignidade para o Teste de Fala Comprimida com Figuras. Método O estudo foi subdividido em três etapas: validação de construto, critério e fidedignidade. Todos os participantes tinham idade entre 6:00 e 8:11. Para o construto, aplicou-se o Fala Comprimida com Figuras e o teste padrão ouro Fala Comprimida Adaptado em crianças com desenvolvimento fonológico típico. Para análise de critério, aplicou-se o Fala Comprimida com Figuras em dois grupos, com desenvolvimento fonológico típico (G1) e atípico (G2). Por fim, os protocolos de aplicação passaram pela análise de duas Fonoaudiólogas, com experiência na área do Processamento Auditivo Central, buscando obter uma análise de fidedignidade interavaliadores. Resultados O teste de correlação indicou um construto quase perfeito (Rho=0,843 para orelha direita e Rho=0,823 para orelha esquerda). Na análise de critério, percebeu-se que ambos os grupos apresentaram resultados satisfatórios (G1 = 99,6 a 100%; G2 = 96 a 96,5%). Já a análise de fidedignidade demonstrou que o protocolo é de fácil análise, pois ambos os profissionais apresentaram respostas unânimes. Conclusão Foi possível obter evidências de validade e fidedignidade para o instrumento de Fala Comprimida com Figuras. A análise de construto evidenciou que o instrumento mede a mesma variável que o teste padrão outro, com correlação quase perfeita. Na análise de critério, ambos os grupos apresentaram desempenho semelhante, demonstrando que o instrumento não parece diferenciar populações com e sem transtorno fonológico leve. A análise de fidedignidade interavaliador demonstrou que o protocolo é de fácil análise e pontuação.

ABSTRACT Purpose To seek evidence of validity and reliability for the Compressed Speech Test with Figures. Methods The study was subdivided into three stages: construct validation, criteria and reliability. All participants were aged between 6:00 and 8:11. For the construct, Compressed Speech with Figures and the gold standard Adapted Compressed Speech test were applied to children with typical phonological development. For criterion analysis, Compressed Speech with Figures was applied in two groups, with typical (G1) and atypical (G2) phonological development. Finally, the application protocols underwent analysis by two Speech Therapists, with experience in the area of Central Auditory Processing, seeking to obtain an inter-evaluator reliability analysis. Results The correlation test indicated an almost perfect construct (correlation 0.843 for the right ear and 0.823 for the left ear). In the criterion analysis, it was noticed that both groups presented satisfactory results (G1 = 99.6 to 100%; G2 = 96 to 96.5%). The reliability analysis demonstrated that the protocol is easy to analyze, as both professionals presented unanimous responses. Conclusion It was possible to obtain evidence of validity and reliability for the Compressed Speech with Figures instrument. The construct analysis showed that the instrument measures the same variable as the gold standard test, with an almost perfect correlation. In the criterion analysis, both groups presented similar performance, demonstrating that the instrument does not seem to differentiate populations with and without mild phonological disorder. The inter-evaluator reliability analysis demonstrated that the protocol is easy to analyze and score.

Validade de conteúdo do Profiles of Early Expressive Phonological Skills-Brazilian Portuguese (PEEPS-BP) - Lista Expandida / Content validity of the Profiles of Early Expressive Phonological Skills-Brazilian Portuguese (PEEPS-BP) - Expanded List

RESUMO Objetivo Realizar a adaptação transcultural do Instrumento Profiles of Early Expressive Phonological Skills- Brazilian Portuguese (PEEPS-BP) - Lista expandida, realizando a validação de conteúdo. Método Estudo de adaptação transcultural, quantitativo e transversal, considerando critérios psicométricos. Realizou-se o estudo da lista de 423 palavras do Inventário de Desenvolvimento Comunicativo- MacArthur- Palavras e Sentenças, adaptado para o Português Brasileiro. O método foi dividido em quatro Etapas. A lista foi julgada por juízes especialistas (JE) e juízes não especialistas (JNE), considerando como critério a familiaridade da palavra para uma criança entre 24 e 36 meses, e a representatividade da palavra com brinquedo/objeto, contemplando as Etapas 1 e 2. Os juízes crianças analisaram, em situação de coleta de dados, a familiaridade e a representatividade das palavras-estímulos, apresentado na Etapa 3. Após, realizou-se o estudo piloto- Etapa 4, com as palavras-estímulo selecionadas. Na análise estatística dos juízes especialistas e não especialistas utilizou-se o índice de Concordância do Kappa Fleiss e Gwet. Na análise das respostas dos juízes crianças e no estudo piloto, a análise foi feita em relação ao tipo de resposta da criança, especificamente pontuando a nomeação espontânea do brinquedo/objeto, pontuando de forma qualitativa. Resultados O resultado da Etapa 1 e 2, e a concordância dos testes estatísticos para os critérios de Familiaridade e Representatividade foi de 45,7% para JE e 76,4% para JNE, e resultado de 100% para a concordância da Representatividade. Foram analisadas 122 palavras, resultantes dos critérios previamente estabelecidos, totalizando 34 palavras (exclusão de uma palavra por parte das pesquisadoras), totalizando 33 palavras-estímulos. Na Etapa 3, das 33 palavras-estímulos aplicadas, nove apresentaram pontuação de nomeação espontânea abaixo do esperado, sendo retestadas para a Etapa 4, Estudo Piloto. O resultado do Estudo Piloto evidenciou que das nove palavras-estímulos retestadas, quatro delas ainda apresentaram pontuação abaixo, sendo excluídas do estudo. Portanto com a aplicação do estudo piloto a lista expandida do PEEPS-BP, resultou em 29 palavras. Conclusão O PEEPS-BP - Lista Expandida apresentou evidências de validade de conteúdo satisfatórias para a adaptação transcultural do teste.

ABSTRACT Purpose To carry out the cross-cultural adaptation of the Instrument Profiles of Early Expressive Phonological Skills- Brazilian Portuguese (PEEPS-BP) - Expanded list, performing content validation. Methods Cross-cultural, quantitative and cross- sectional adaptation study, considering psychometric criteria. A study was carried out on the list of 423 words from the Communicative Development Inventory - MacArthur - Words and Sentences, adapted to Brazilian Portuguese. The method was divided into four steps. The list was judged by expert judges (JE) and non-specialist judges (JNE), considering as a criterion the familiarity of the word for a child aged between 24 and 36 months, and the representativeness of the word with toy/object, contemplating Steps 1 and 2. The child judges analyzed, in a data collection situation, the familiarity and representativeness of the stimulus-words, presented in Step 3. Afterwards, the pilot study - Step 4, was carried out with the selected stimulus-words. In the statistical analysis by expert and non-specialist judges, the Fleiss' Kappa and Gwet Concordance index was used. In the analysis of the responses of the child judges and in the Pilot Study, the analysis was made in relation to the type of response of the child, specifically scoring the spontaneous naming of the toy/object, scoring qualitatively. Results The result of Steps 1 and 2, and the agreement of the statistical tests for the Familiarity and Representativeness criteria was 45.7% for JE and 76.4% for JNE, and a result of 100% for the agreement of Representativeness. A total of 122 words were analyzed, resulting from previously established criteria, totaling 34 words (exclusion of one word by the researchers), totaling 33 stimulus-words. In Stage 3, of the 33 stimulus-words applied, nine presented spontaneous naming scores below expectations, being retested for Step 4, the Pilot Study. The result of the Pilot Study showed that of the nine retested stimulus-words, four of them still had a score below, being excluded from the study. Therefore, with the application of the Pilot Study, the expanded list of PEEPS-BP resulted in 29 words. Conclusion The PEEPS-BP - Expanded List showed satisfactory evidence of content validity for the cross-cultural adaptation of the test.

Montreal Communication Evaluation Brief Battery - MEC B: reliability and validity.

PURPOSE: Search for reliability and validity evidence for the Montreal Communication Evaluation Brief Battery (MEC B) for adults with right brain damage. METHODS: Three hundred twenty-four healthy adults and 26 adults with right brain damage, aged 19-75 years, with two or more years of education were evaluated with MEC B. The MEC B Battery contains nine tasks that aim to evaluate communicative abilities as discourse, prosody, lexical-semantic and pragmatic process. Two sources of reliability evidence were used: internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and interrater reliability. Construct validity was evaluated comparing the Montreal Communication Evaluation Battery (MEC), expanded version and MEC B tasks. RESULTS: Internal consistence was satisfactory and the interrater reliability was considered excellent, as were correlations between MEC Battery and MEC B Battery tasks. CONCLUSION: The MEC B Battery showed satisfactory reliability and validity evidences. It can be used as outcome measure of intervention programs and assist speech therapists to plan rehabilitation programs.