Proposal of a protocol for thermographic assessment of the orbicularis oris muscle.

BACKGROUND: The orbicularis oris muscle is extremely important to performing various oral functions, including mastication, swallowing and speech. Infrared thermography is a non-invasive painless technique that does not require either contrast or ionisation. It has been increasingly used in speech-language-hearing therapy in the last years. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to propose a thermographic analysis method for the orbicularis oris muscle. METHODS: This is an observational, analytical, cross-sectional study. The area of the orbicularis oris muscle was defined based on its anatomy with thermographic images of 11 children and 13 adults. Then, this area was divided into four quadrants, each of which was analysed considering four different shapes: a triangle; a rectangle; a triangle with a rounded side, including the vermilion zone; and a customised shape encompassing only the region of the orbicularis oris muscle, not including the vermilion zone. Data were collected and analysed with the coefficient of variation and interrater agreement. RESULTS: Data variability for the four shapes had similar dispersions per region of the orbicularis oris muscle, in both maximum and mean temperatures and in both children and adults. The rectangle was the shape with the lowest coefficient of variation in more regions of both adults and children. Interrater agreement was excellent for all shapes, in both children and adults. CONCLUSION: Currently, the best way to analyse the orbicularis oris muscle's quadrants is to use the maximum temperature and the rectangle, based on an initial ellipsis encompassing the whole muscle.

Termografia da face de crianças respiradoras orais e nasais / Facial thermography of mouth and nose breathing children

Introdução: A respiração oral é uma alteração prevalente na infância, que tem como uma das consequências a alteração na musculatura dos lábios. A termografia infravermelha, é uma opção para se avaliar a população infantil, pois não gera incômodo, é segura e não emite radiação. Acredita-se que a termografia da face e dos lábios possa auxiliar no diagnóstico e acompanhamento fonoaudiológico. Objetivo: 1) descrever a distribuição de temperatura na face de crianças respiradoras nasais; 2) verificar se os pontos termoanatômicos descritos para adultos pela literatura são facilmente visualizados nas crianças; 3) comparar os resultados da temperatura média dos pontos termoanatômicos da face entre os sexos; e 4) comparar a temperatura dos pontos termoanatômicos e áreas do lábio superior e lábio inferior entre crianças respiradoras orais e nasais. Métodos: estudo observacional transversal realizado com 30 crianças respiradoras nasais e 30 orais de quatro a 11 anos, de ambos os sexos. Utilizou-se a termografia infravermelha da face para obter um termograma frontal, um de perfil direito e outro esquerdo de cada participante. Foram marcados 14 pontos termoanatômicos no termograma frontal e 6 em cada de perfil, mais as áreas de lábio superior e inferior. Foi realizada análise qualitativa visual das imagens, além de análise descritiva e cálculo do ∆T (diferença entre os dois lados da face). Também foi realizada análise de concordância intra e interavaliadores na avaliação dos pontos utilizando-se o Coeficiente de correlação intraclasse. Comparou-se as temperaturas entre os sexos de respiradores nasais, temperatura de respiradores orais e nasais por meio dos Testes T e Mann Whitney. Além disso, comparou-se a diferença entre a temperatura da área de lábio superior e inferior (∆T área) e dos pontos localizados no lábio superior com os do inferior (∆T pontos) entre respiradores orais e nasais utilizando-se os mesmos testes. Resultados: As maiores temperaturas foram no ponto Comissura Palpebral Medial na vista frontal e no ponto Temporal de perfil. O ponto supratroclear não é um ponto que se destaca na face das crianças. O ∆T foi maior que 0,3 para a maioria dos pontos. As regiões hiperradiantes foram testa, olhos e região perioral e as hiporradiantes nariz, bochechas e região do mento. A análise de concordância intra e interavaliadores na avaliação dos pontos variou de boa a ótima. Não foi encontrada diferença de temperatura entre os sexos. Verificou-se que os pontos termoanatômicos mais próximos ao lábio, áreas dos lábios e meato acústico externo apresentaram temperatura menor nos respiradores orais do que nos nasais. Não houve diferença entre os grupos no ∆T de área e pontos. Conclusão: as crianças respiradoras nasais apresentaram como regiões hiperradiantes a testa, os olhos e a região perioral. Os pontos termoanatômicos encontrados nas crianças, são coincidentes com os da população adulta, exceto o ponto Supratroclear, que não é nítido. Os respiradores nasais apresentaram assimetria térmica e não houve diferença entre os sexos. Crianças respiradoras orais apresentaram menor temperatura na região dos lábios e do meato acústico externo do que as respiradoras nasais e não houve diferença entre lábio superior e inferior.

Introduction: mouth breathing is a prevalent disorder in childhood, which has as consequence alteration in the muscle of the lips. Infrared thermography, is an interesting option to assess the child population, as it is safe and does not cause discomfort nor emit radiation. It is believed that thermography of the face and lips can help in the orofacial myology diagnosis and follow-up. Objective: 1) to describe the facial spatial temperature distribution of nose breathing children; 2) verify if the thermoanatomical points described for adults in the literature are easily viewed in nose breathing children; 3) to compare the results of the mean temperature of the thermoanatomical points of the face of nose breathing children between sexes; 4) to compare the temperature of the thermoanatomical points and areas of lips between mouth and nose breathing children. Methods: Cross-sectional observational study of 30 nose-breathing and 30 mouth breathing children of both sexes aged 4 to 11 years. Front view, right side view, and left side view thermogram of each participant were recorded. The mean temperatures of 14 anatomical thermal points in the front view thermogram and 12 points in the side view and lip areas were assessed. A visual qualitative analysis of the images was performed, in addition to a descriptive analysis, and calculation of the ∆T (difference between the two sides of the face). Intra- and interrater agreement analyses of point assessment were made using the intraclass correlation coefficient. Temperatures were compared between sexes of nasal breathers, and temperatures of nose and mouth breathers using the T and Mann Whitney tests. In addition, the difference between the temperature of the upper and lower lip area (∆T area) and between the points located on the upper lip with those on the lower lip (∆T points) of mouth and nose breathers were compared using the same tests. Results: Medial Palpebral Commissure point had the highest temperature in the front view thermogram and Temporal point in the side view. The Supratrochlear point is not a point that stands out on the face of children. ∆T was greater than 0.3 for most points. The warmest regions were forehead, eyes and perioral region and the coldest, nose, cheeks and chin region. The analysis of intra- and inter-rater agreement in the assessment of points ranged from good to excellent. No temperature difference was found between the sexes. It was found that the thermoanatomical points closest to the lip, areas of the lips and External Acoustic Meatus presented lower temperature in mouth breathers than in nose ones. There was no difference between the groups in ∆T area and points. Conclusion: nose breathing children presented the forehead, eyes and perioral region as the hottest regions. The thermoanatomical points found in children are similar to those on the adult population, except for the Supratrochlear point, which does not stand out. Nose breathers showed thermal asymmetry and there was no difference between the sexes. Mouth breathing children have lower temperature in the region of the lips than nose breathing children.

Difference of Socioeconomic Factors among Mothers of Preterm and Full-Term Infant

Abstract Objective: To analyze the difference of socioeconomic factors among mothers of preterm and full-term infants. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study was developed with 250 mothers of children aged three to five years. The sample was divided into two groups: 125 mothers of preterm infants from the referral center of a public hospital in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil and 125 mothers of children born full-term at a daycare center within the same city. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect socioeconomic data and type of breastfeeding. To verify if there was association between the dependent variable gestational age at birth and the independent variables, the chi-square test was used. A final model with multiple Poisson regression estimated prevalence ratio values for each independent variable was developed. Results: The final multiple regression model showed that mothers that have a low monthly income of up to USD 450.28 (PR = 1.979, 95% CI = 1.082-3.620), used drugs, cigarettes, or alcohol during their pregnancy (PR = 4.095, 95% CI = 2.422-6.921), and did not breastfeed (PR = 2.294, 95% CI = 1.205-4.369) were more likely to give birth to preterm infants. Conclusion: Low monthly family income, use of drugs, alcohol, or smoking during pregnancy and absence of breastfeeding were more frequent on mothers of preterm infants.

Fatores associados à pressão de língua em pacientes pós-acidente vascular cerebral / Factors associated with tongue pressure in post-stroke patients

RESUMO Introdução A prática clínica fonoaudiológica no ambiente hospitalar mostra que existe alta prevalência de disfagia em pacientes pós-acidente vascular cerebral. Objetivo Verificar se o tempo de ocorrência e o tipo do acidente vascular cerebral, o hemicorpo acometido por hemiplegia, a gravidade do deficit neurológico, a presença e o grau de disfagia interferem na pressão de língua de pacientes internados pós-acidente vascular cerebral. Métodos Estudo realizado com 31 pacientes. Foi aplicado protocolo da avaliação da disfagia, prova de mobilidade lingual e mediu-se a pressão de língua com o Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI). Foram realizadas três medidas da pressão anterior e três da pressão posterior. Os dados foram analisados por meio de estatística apropriada, com nível de significância de 5%. Resultados Apenas a presença de disfagia se mostrou associada estatisticamente à pressão de língua, sendo que os pacientes pós-acidente vascular cerebral disfágicos apresentaram pressão anterior e posterior média e máxima da língua menor que aqueles sem a presença de disfagia. O tempo de ocorrência do acidente vascular cerebral, o tipo e o hemicorpo acometido e a gravidade do deficit neurológico não apresentaram associação com a pressão lingual. Dentre os 15 participantes que apresentaram a dificuldade de deglutição, 14 (93,3%) foram classificados com disfagia leve e um (6,7%) com disfagia moderada. Conclusão Verificou-se que a disfagia, ainda que de grau leve, foi o fator preponderante para diminuição da pressão de língua em pacientes que sofreram acidente vascular cerebral.

ABSTRACT Introduction: The clinical practice of speech pathology in hospitals shows that there is a high prevalence of dysphagia in post-stroke patients. Purpose: To verify whether the time of occurrence, type of stroke, affected hemisphere, severity of neurological deficit, presence or absence of dysphagia, and degree of dysphagia interfere with tongue pressure in post-stroke patients. Methods: This study was conducted in 31 stroke patients. Three evaluations were performed, one of tongue mobility, another of dysphagia, and another of tongue pressure using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument. Three measurements were performed of anterior and three of posterior tongue pressure. Data were analyzed using appropriate statistics, considering a significance level of 5%. Results: Only the presence of dysphagia was associated with tongue pressure. Post-stroke patients with dysphagia had lower anterior and posterior tongue pressure (mean and maximum) than those without dysphagia. The time of occurrence, type, and affected hemisphere of the stroke and severity of the neurological deficit were not associated with tongue pressure. Regarding the degree of dysphagia, of the 15 participants who had swallowing difficulties, 14 were classified with mild and one with moderate dysphagia. Conclusion: Dysphagia was the most important factor in the decrease of tongue pressure in post-stroke patients.

Relação entre a percepção da posição de língua pelo indivíduo e medidas de força da língua nos dentes / Relationship between perception of tongue position and measures of tongue force on the teeth

RESUMO Objetivo Verificar se existe diferença nos valores de pressão da língua nos dentes entre participantes que percebem a posição de língua adequada e alterada, tanto em repouso como em deglutição. Métodos Avaliou-se a força da língua sobre o dente de 28 participantes hígidos com idades de 19 a 31 anos. Para tal, um sensor resistivo Flexiforce® foi fixado na face palatina do dente incisivo central superior direito e conectado a um circuito amplificador, a uma placa de aquisição de dados e a um computador. Foram realizadas medições em posição habitual e deglutição de saliva. Além disso, o participante foi questionado sobre qual era sua posição habitual de língua e onde o ápice da língua tocava durante a deglutição. Utilizou-se o teste Mann Whitney ao nível de 5% para análise estatística. Resultados Durante a posição habitual, a força da língua no dente foi de 0,00 N, tanto para os participantes que relataram toque da língua nos dentes como para os sem toque. Na deglutição dirigida, a força foi de 0,34 N para o grupo com língua tocando os dentes nesta tarefa e 0,08 N para o grupo sem toque, sendo a diferença significante. Conclusão Não houve diferença nos valores de força de língua sobre os dentes de participantes que apresentavam posição habitual da língua tocando os dentes e os que não apresentavam. Porém, na deglutição dirigida, participantes que relataram anteriorização de língua apresentaram valores maiores de força da língua nos dentes do que aqueles com deglutição sem toque nos dentes superiores.

ABSTRACT Purpose To verify whether there are differences of tongue force on the teeth at rest and during swallowing between individuals who report appropriate tongue position and those who report tongue thrust. Methods Tongue forces on the teeth were evaluated in 28 participants aged 19 to 31 years. To this end, a Flexiforce® resistive sensor was fixed to the palatal surface of the maxillary right central incisor (tooth 8) and was connected to an amplifier circuit, a data acquisition board, and a computer. Measurements were taken at rest and during saliva swallowing. Participants were asked about their habitual tongue position and where the apex of tongue touched when they swallowed. The Mann Whitney test was used for statistical analysis at 5% significance level. Results At habitual position, tongue force on the teeth was 0.00 N both for participants that reported tongue touch and for those who did not. At directed swallowing, tongue force was 0.34 N for the group of individuals whose tongues touch the teeth and 0.08 N for the group of individuals whose tongues do not touch the teeth. This difference was significant. Conclusion No significant difference was found between the tongue forces of participants of both groups at habitual position. However, participants with tongue thrust during directed swallowing presented greater force than those whose tongues do not touch the teeth during this task.

Relationship between perception of tongue position and measures of tongue force on the teeth. / Relação entre a percepção da posição de língua pelo indivíduo e medidas de força da língua nos dentes.

PURPOSE: To verify whether there are differences of tongue force on the teeth at rest and during swallowing between individuals who report appropriate tongue position and those who report tongue thrust. METHODS: Tongue forces on the teeth were evaluated in 28 participants aged 19 to 31 years. To this end, a Flexiforce® resistive sensor was fixed to the palatal surface of the maxillary right central incisor (tooth 8) and was connected to an amplifier circuit, a data acquisition board, and a computer. Measurements were taken at rest and during saliva swallowing. Participants were asked about their habitual tongue position and where the apex of tongue touched when they swallowed. The Mann Whitney test was used for statistical analysis at 5% significance level. RESULTS: At habitual position, tongue force on the teeth was 0.00 N both for participants that reported tongue touch and for those who did not. At directed swallowing, tongue force was 0.34 N for the group of individuals whose tongues touch the teeth and 0.08 N for the group of individuals whose tongues do not touch the teeth. This difference was significant. CONCLUSION: No significant difference was found between the tongue forces of participants of both groups at habitual position. However, participants with tongue thrust during directed swallowing presented greater force than those whose tongues do not touch the teeth during this task.

Achados da avaliação multiprofissional de crianças respiradoras orais / Findings of multiprofessional evaluation of mouth breathing children

OBJETIVO: descrever os achados miofuncionais orofaciais, bem como os principais problemas otorrinolaringológicos, alergológicos e ortodônticos encontrados em crianças com respiração oral. MÉTODOS: análise de prontuários de 502 crianças do Ambulatório do Respirador Oral do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Os participantes tinham idades entre 2 e 12 anos (mediana de 6,0 anos), sendo 289 (57,6%) do sexo masculino e 213 (42,4%) do sexo feminino. Foram coletados dados dos prontuários referentes à anamnese geral, avaliação fonoaudiológica, bem como as partes relevantes das avaliações otorrinolaringológica, alergológica e ortodôntica. Os dados foram submetidos à análise estatística. RESULTADOS: na anamnese, observou-se prevalência significante de permanência de boca aberta (98,0%), ronco (89,9%) e sialorreia noturna (68,6%). Na avaliação alergológica, verificou-se teste cutâneo positivo (59%) e rinite (57,8%) e na otorrinolaringológica, hipertrofia de adenoide (91,7%) e amígdalas (72,6%), além de mucosa nasal alterada (60,3%). A avaliação ortodôntica indicou presença de má oclusão (86,8%), perfil facial convexo (62,9%) e trespasse vertical aumentado (55,5%). Os dados da avaliação fonoaudiológica indicaram inadequação da posição habitual de lábios (70,5%), tensão de lábios (65,4%) e de língua (64,4%) alteradas, palato duro alto (57,1%), ângulo nasolabial alterado (57,0%) e assimetria facial (55,0%). CONCLUSÃO: verificaram-se alterações nas avaliações realizadas por todos os profissionais, confirmando o grande impacto da respiração oral na qualidade de vida e, portanto, a necessidade de tratamento multidisciplinar para esses pacientes. .

PURPOSE: to describe orofacial myofunctional findings, as well as the main otolaryngological, allergological and orthodontic problems found in mouth breathing children. METHODS: 502 medical charts from the Mouth Breathing Outpatient Clinic from Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais were analyzed. The subjects were aged between 2 and 12 years (median 6.0 years) and, about genders, 289 (57.6%) were male and 213 (42.4%) were female. The data collected was regarding general anamnesis, speech-language pathology evaluation, as well as the relevant parts of otolaryngological, allergological and orthodontic assessments. Data was submitted to statistical analysis. RESULTS: at anamnesis, significant prevalence of maintaining the mouth opened (98.0%), snoring (89.9%) and nocturnal drooling (68.6%) was observed. Allergologic evaluation showed positive skin test (59.0%) and rhinitis (57.8%) and otolaryngological assessment revealed hypertrophic adenoids (91.7%) and tonsils (72.6%) and changed nasal mucosa (60.3%). The findings on orthodontic evaluation were malocclusion (86.8%), convex facial profile (62.9%) and overbite (55.5%). Data from speech-language pathology assessment indicated inappropriate usual lips position (70.5%), facial changes in lips (65.4%) and tongue (64.4%) strength, high hard palate (57.1%), altered nasolabial angle (57.0%) and asymmetry (55.0%). CONCLUSION: alterations were found on the evaluations made by all professionals, confirming the huge impact of mouth breathing on quality of life of those children, and therefore the need for multidisciplinary treatment for these patients. .

Evaluation of the force applied by the tongue and lip on the maxillary central incisor tooth.

PURPOSE: To describe the development and testing of a system that measures forces exerted by the tongue and upper lip on a tooth during rest and during swallowing. METHODS: Twenty-eight subjects, aged 19-31 years (mean: 23.2 years) were submitted to measurement of forces exerted by the upper lip and tongue on the maxillary right central incisor tooth. Flexiforce resistive sensors were fixed on the labial and lingual surfaces of the tooth. They were connected to an amplifier circuit and a data acquisition board for processing and transmitting information to a computer. RESULTS: At rest, the tongue force on the tooth was 0.00±0.00 N and the lip force on tooth was 0.02±0.02 N. The difference between them was significant. During swallowing, the values were 0.31±0.38 N and 0.15±0.14 N, for the tongue and lip, respectively. This difference was not significant. CONCLUSION: At rest, the lip exerts a larger force than the tongue on the maxillary right central incisor tooth. During swallowing, there was no difference between lip and tongue force on the tooth.

Evaluation of the force applied by the tongue and lip on the maxillary central incisor tooth

PURPOSE: To describe the development and testing of a system that measures forces exerted by the tongue and upper lip on a tooth during rest and during swallowing. METHODS: Twenty-eight subjects, aged 19-31 years (mean: 23.2 years) were submitted to measurement of forces exerted by the upper lip and tongue on the maxillary right central incisor tooth. Flexiforce resistive sensors were fixed on the labial and lingual surfaces of the tooth. They were connected to an amplifier circuit and a data acquisition board for processing and transmitting information to a computer. RESULTS: At rest, the tongue force on the tooth was 0.00±0.00 N and the lip force on tooth was 0.02±0.02 N. The difference between them was significant. During swallowing, the values were 0.31±0.38 N and 0.15±0.14 N, for the tongue and lip, respectively. This difference was not significant. CONCLUSION: At rest, the lip exerts a larger force than the tongue on the maxillary right central incisor tooth. During swallowing, there was no difference between lip and tongue force on the tooth. .

MAXIMUM PROTRUSIVE TONGUE FORCE IN HEALTHY YOUNG ADULTS.

In clinical speech-language pathology practice, tongue force is usually evaluated qualitatively. Perception and practical experience are used to classify this force. The Biomechanical Engineering Group from the Federal University of Minas Gerais developed an instrument to quantify tongue force. The purposes of this study were to quantify maximum tongue protrusion force in Brazilian subjects with normal tongue strength and to compare force values between gender groups. In total, 105 subjects, 43 men and 62 women, aged from 18 to 29 years, with normal tongue strength according to qualitative evaluation, underwent quantitative evaluation by using the instrument. The mean of the maximum tongue force values of all participants was 17.58 ± 7.95 N. There were significant differences in the median values for maximum tongue forces between the genders, with higher values observed for men. In intersubject comparisons, high variation coefficients were evident due to the variability among individuals. However, the study suggested that the instrument could be an interesting tool for intrasubject comparisons, especially during the follow-up.

Métodos quantitativos para avaliação da força de língua / Quantitative methods for assessing tongue force

Por muitos anos, pesquisadores têm procurado métodos para quantificar a força da língua e muitos instrumentos foram construídos para este fim. O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar uma revisão crítica da literatura sobre instrumentos para quantificar a força de língua. Os 30 aparelhos encontrados foram agrupados em quatro diferentes categorias: bocal contendo sensores (n=9), sensores fixados nos dentes, palato ou em placas palatais (n=8), bulbos preenchidos com fluidos e conectados a sensores de pressão (n=7) e outras tecnologias (n=8). Esses instrumentos podem, potencialmente, auxiliar o fonoaudiólogo na avaliação miofuncional orofacial, fazendo com que o diagnóstico de força da língua seja mais preciso. Alguns aparelhos apresentam desvantagens, tais como não serem sensíveis a pequenas mudanças de força, dificuldades na reprodutibilidade do posicionamento e outros pontos específicos. A grande variação de valores de força/pressão máxima e média encontrados relaciona-se à grande diversidade dos métodos, que empregam diferentes tecnologias.

For several years, researchers have been looking for methods to quantify tongue force and a lot of devices were constructed for this purpose. The purpose of this study is to present a critical literature review about the devices to quantify tongue strength. Thirty devices were found. They were grouped into four different categories: mouthpiece containing sensors (n=9), sensors attached on teeth surface or on palatal plates (n=8), bulbs filled with some fluid and connected to a pressure sensor (n=7) and other technologies (n=8). These methods can, potentially, help speech-language pathologists in the orofacial myology evaluation, making the diagnosis of tongue force more reliable. Some of them present disadvantages such as not being sensitive enough to small changes in force, difficulties in positioning reproducibility and other specific points. The large variation in maximum and average strength/pressure values are related to the large diversity of the methods, which use different technologies.

Adesão a orientações fonoaudiológicas após a alta do tratamento vocal em docentes: estudo prospectivo / Adherence to voice therapy guidelines after discharge from vocal treatment in teachers: a prospective study

OBJETIVO: investigar a adesão a orientações fonoaudiológicas de professores da rede municipal de ensino que foram atendidos no Ambulatório de Voz do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais e que receberam alta da fonoterapia. MÉTODO: foi realizada entrevista por meio de telefone a 39 pacientes atendidos no período de agosto de 2007 a dezembro de 2008 no Ambulatório de Voz do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. A entrevista visou analisar a adesão a orientações após alta fonoterápica. RESULTADOS: os resultados desta pesquisa apontam que 34 pacientes (87,1%) referem seguir as orientações fonoaudiológicas, quatro (10,2%) seguem parcialmente e um (2,5%) refere não seguir. CONCLUSÃO: os professores, em sua maioria, aderem às orientações fonoaudiológicas após alta fonoterápica. Os resultados sugerem que a terapia fonoaudiológica favorece a manutenção de um comportamento vocal saudável.

PURPOSE: to investigate the adherence to voice therapy guidelines of teachers in municipal schools that were treated at the Voice Clinic of Hospital das Clínicas, Federal University of Minas Gerais, and that were discharged from voice therapy. METHOD: 39 patients treated at the Voice Clinic of Hospital das Clínicas, Federal University of Minas Gerais were interviewed by phone from August 2007 to December 2008. The interviews aimed to analyze the adherence to the guidelines after voice therapy discharge. RESULTS: this study outcome indicates that 34 patients (87.1%) report following the guidelines, four (10.2%) do it partially and one (2.5%) referred not following the guidelines. CONCLUSION: the majority of teachers adhere to the guidelines after voice therapy discharge. The outcome suggests that the voice therapy helps to maintain the standard of voice and a healthy vocal behavior.

Análise espectrográfica da voz: efeito do treinamento visual na confiabilidade da avaliação / Spectrographic analysis of the voice: effect of visual training on the reliability of evaluation

OBJETIVO: Verificar se o treinamento visual melhora a concordância inter e intra-avaliadores da interpretação da análise acústica espectrográfica. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo experimental longitudinal que utilizou espectrogramas coletados em um banco de dados de consultório particular, referentes a vozes de homens e mulheres analisadas pelo programa Gram 5.0 em escala de 60 dB, em display scroll, paleta BW, com análise de frequências em escala linear, banda estreita, FFT 1024 e resolução 5.4 Hz. Vinte sujeitos, estudantes de Fonoaudiologia, avaliaram 25 espectrogramas, sendo cinco destes repetidos para avaliar a concordância intra-sujeitos, antes e após um treinamento de análise de espectrogramas. Os parâmetros analisados foram: forma do traçado espectrográfico, grau de escurecimento dos harmônicos, estabilidade do traçado espectrográfico, presença de ruído, presença de sub-harmônicos e definição dos harmônicos. O treinamento teve a duração total de quatro horas. Utilizou-se a estatística Kappa para avaliar a concordância intrassujeitos e o teste Qui-quadrado de ajuste para a concordância intersujeitos. RESULTADOS: Em relação à concordância intra-sujeitos, os aspectos escurecimento do traçado, estabilidade do traçado, presença de sub-harmônicos, e definição de harmônicos obtiveram melhora desta e os demais aspectos mantiveram concordância quase perfeita depois do treinamento. Quanto à concordância intersujeitos, os aspectos de estabilidade do traçado e presença de sub-harmônicos obtiveram melhora, e o aspecto presença de ruído obteve piora após o treinamento. CONCLUSÃO: O treinamento visual melhorou a confiabilidade inter e intra-avaliadores na interpretação de espectrogramas.

Purpose: To verify whether visual training improves the reliability inter and intra-observer of spectrograms interpretation. METHODS: This was a longitudinal experimental study that used spectrograms collected in a database of a private office, regarding the voices of men and women analyzed by the program Gram 5.0 in 60 dB scale, display scroll, palette BW, with frequency analysis performed in linear scale, narrow band, FFT size 1024, and frequency resolution 5.4 Hz. Twenty subjects, Speech-Language Pathology students, evaluated 25 spectrograms, of which five were repeated to evaluate intra-observer reliability, before and after a visual training of spectrograms analysis. The analyzed parameters were: spectrogram regularity, harmonic darkening, spectrogram stability, presence of noise components, harmonics definition and presence of sub-harmonics. The training session lasted four hours. Kappa statistic was used to evaluate intra-observer reliability, and the adjusted Chi-square test, to evaluate inter-observer reliability. RESULTS: Intra-observer reliability of harmonic darkening, spectrogram stability, harmonic definition and presence of sub-harmonics improved, and the other aspects kept almost perfect agreement after the training. Inter-observer reliability of spectrogram stability and presence of sub-harmonics improved, and presence of noise components got worse after training. CONCLUSION: Visual training improved inter and intra-observers reliability in spectrograms interpretation.