Accuracy and Cut-Off Values of Cepstral Measures in the Clinical Evaluation of Brazilian Portuguese Speakers.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the accuracy and cut-off values of the cepstral peak prominence (CPP) and cepstral peak prominence-smoothed (CPPS) obtained from different speech tasks, to identify dysphonic voices in Brazilian Portuguese speakers, and to verify the correlation between these measures and the overall severity of dysphonia (OS). METHOD: In a study with 376 subjects-277 with dysphonia and 99 controls-we recorded four speech tasks and assessed OS with a visual analog scale. We extracted CPP and CPPS from these recordings and analyzed them using receiver operating characteristic curves to determine cut-off values and other performance metrics (area under curve, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and likelihood ratios). RESULTS: CPP values below 28.15 dB (sustained vowel [Ɛ]), 28.77 dB (sustained vowel [a]), 28.58 dB (all Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) sentences), and CPPS values below 16.42 dB (sustained vowel [Ɛ]), 17.02 dB (sustained vowel [a]), and 11.30 dB (all CAPE-V sentences) are indicative of the presence of dysphonia. CPPVE, CPPVA, CPPCAPE-V, CPPVS, CPPSVE, CPPSVA, CPPSCount, CPPSCAPE-V e CPPSVS, and CPPSVS can explain the variability of OS from 19% to 57.9%. CONCLUSIONS: The cut-off values for CPPVE, CPPVA, CPPCAPE-V, CPPSVE, CPPSCAPE-V, and CPPSVA obtained from Praat software can be used as a reference for the clinical voice assessment of Brazilian Portuguese speakers in the respective speech tasks. Analysis of the correlation coefficients of the cepstral measures investigated provided us with a predictive model of OS perception based on each measure/speech task.

The influence of listener experience, measurement scale and speech task on the reliability of auditory-perceptual evaluation of vocal quality.

PURPOSE: To assess the influence of the listener experience, measurement scales and the type of speech task on the auditory-perceptual evaluation of the overall severity (OS) of voice deviation and the predominant type of voice (rough, breathy or strain). METHODS: 22 listeners, divided into four groups participated in the study: speech-language pathologist specialized in voice (SLP-V), SLP non specialized in voice (SLP-NV), graduate students with auditory-perceptual analysis training (GS-T), and graduate students without auditory-perceptual analysis training (GS-U). The subjects rated the OS of voice deviation and the predominant type of voice of 44 voices by visual analog scale (VAS) and the numerical scale (score "G" from GRBAS), corresponding to six speech tasks such as sustained vowel /a/ and /ɛ/, sentences, number counting, running speech, and all five previous tasks together. RESULTS: Sentences obtained the best interrater reliability in each group, using both VAS and GRBAS. SLP-NV group demonstrated the best interrater reliability in OS judgment in different speech tasks using VAS or GRBAS. Sustained vowel (/a/ and /ɛ/) and running speech obtained the best interrater reliability among the groups of listeners in judging the predominant vocal quality. GS-T group got the best result of interrater reliability in judging the predominant vocal quality. CONCLUSION: The time of experience in the auditory-perceptual judgment of the voice, the type of training to which they were submitted, and the type of speech task influence the reliability of the auditory-perceptual evaluation of vocal quality.

Phonatory Tasks and Outcome Measures for Assessing Vocal Fatigue: A Scoping Review.

OBJECTIVES: To map the phonatory tasks and the result measures used to evaluate vocal fatigue in vocally healthy individuals. METHODS: This is a scoping review based on the following research question: What are the phonatory tasks and outcome measures used for the evaluation of vocal fatigue in vocally healthy individuals? The construction of the search strategy followed the PCC strategy; population: vocally healthy adult individuals; concept: phonatory tasks and vocal evaluation measures; and context: vocal fatigue. The search was performed electronically in the databases Medline (PubMed), LILACS (BVS), SCOPUS (Elsevier), Web of Science (Clarivate), EMBASE, and COCHRANE. A manual search in the references of the selected articles and in the journal with the highest number of publications was also performed. The selection of articles was based on reading the titles, abstracts, and full text, applying the eligibility criteria. The selected articles were related to the evaluation of vocal fatigue in healthy individuals from a predetermined vocal load task. Data regarding the characteristics of the publication, sample, phonatory tasks, and outcomes were extracted. The results were presented in a descriptive format, due to a frequency distribution analysis. RESULTS: In total, 3756 studies were identified during the search, of which 60 were selected. The most used vocal load activity was the reading task, with duration ranging from 46 to 120 minutes. The (1) sustained vowel /a/ and (2) the reading of texts and phrases, both in usual intensity and frequency without the interference of the researcher, were the most used evaluation tasks. The most used outcome measures are the following: (1) acoustic parameters-fundamental frequency [fo] (mean, variance), sound pressure level (mean), local jitter (%), local shimmer (%), cepstral peak prominence (mean); (2) vocal self-assessment by the validated instruments-Perceived Phonatory Effort Scale, Visual Analog Scale, Borg-CR-10 Scale. CONCLUSIONS: There is a diversity of phonatory tasks and outcome measures recurrently used in scientific articles to evaluate the signs of vocal fatigue in vocally healthy individuals. The most used vocal sample to evaluate vocal fatigue was the sustained vowel /a/ in habitual intensity and frequency without the interference of the researcher. The most frequently reported outcome measures for the assessment of immediate vocal fatigue effects were the acoustic analysis and vocal self-assessment.

Medidas espectrais e cepstrais em mulheres com disfonia comportamental / Spectral and cepstral measurements in women with behavioral dysphonia

RESUMO Objetivo Investigar se existem diferenças nas medidas acústicas cepstrais e espectrais entre mulheres com disfonia comportamental com e sem lesão laríngea, bem como verificar se existe correlação entre tais medidas e o julgamento perceptivo-auditivo da qualidade vocal. Método Participaram 78 mulheres com disfonia comportamental sem lesão laríngea (DCSL) e 68 com disfonia comportamental com lesão laríngea (nódulos vocais) (DCCL). Foram extraídas as medidas CPP (cepstral peak prominence), CPPS (cepstral peak prominence smoothed), declínio espectral e H1-H2 (diferença entre a amplitude do primeiro e do segundo harmônico), assim como o julgamento perceptivo-auditivo (JPA) do grau geral de desvio vocal (GG), graus de rugosidade (GR), de soprosidade (GS) e de tensão (GT). Resultados Mulheres com DCCL apresentaram maiores valores de H1-H2 e menores valores no CPP e CPPS, em relação às mulheres com DCSL. As vozes mais desviadas apresentaram menores valores do CPP e CPPS. As vozes soprosas apresentaram menores valores de CPP e CPPS, assim como maior valor de H1-H2 em relação às vozes rugosas. Houve correlação negativa fraca entre o CPP e o GR, negativa moderada com o GG e negativa forte com o GS. O CPPS apresentou correlação negativa moderada com o GG, GR e GS. A medida H1-H2 apresentou correlação positiva fraca com o GS. Houve correlação positiva fraca entre o declínio espectral e o GT. Conclusão As medidas acústicas H1-H2, CPP e CPPS apresentam diferenças entre mulheres com DCSL e DCCL. Além disso, há correlação entre as medidas cepstrais e espectrais e os diferentes parâmetros do JPA.

ABSTRACT Purpose To investigate whether there are differences in cepstral and spectral acoustic measures between women with behavioral dysphonia with and without laryngeal lesions and verify whether there is a correlation between such measures and the auditory-perceptual evaluation of voice quality. Methods The sample comprised 78 women with behavioral dysphonia without laryngeal lesions (BDWOL) and 68 with behavioral dysphonia with laryngeal lesions (vocal nodules) (BDWL). Cepstral peak prominence (CPP), cepstral peak prominence-smoothed (CPPS), spectral decrease, and H1-H2 (difference between the amplitude of the first and second harmonics) were extracted. They were submitted to the auditory-perceptual evaluation (APE) of the grade of hoarseness (GH), roughness (RO), breathiness (BR), and strain (ST). Results BDWL women had higher H1-H2 values and lower CPP and CPPS values than BDWOL women. More deviant voices had lower CPP and CPPS values. Breathy voices had lower CPP and CPPS values and higher H1-H2 values than rough ones. There was a weak negative correlation between CPP and RO, a moderate negative correlation with GH, and a strong negative correlation with BR. CPPS had a moderate negative correlation with GH, RO, and BR. H1-H2 had a weak positive correlation with BR. There was a weak positive correlation between spectral decrease and ST. Conclusion H1-H2, CPP, and CPPS were different between BDWOL and BDWL women. Furthermore, cepstral and spectral measures were correlated with the different APE parameters.

Evidência de validade baseada nos processos de resposta de um protocolo de análise espectrográfica da voz / Evidence of response process validity of a spectrographic voice analysis protocol

RESUMO Objetivo desenvolver a etapa de validade baseada nos processos de resposta do Protocolo de Análise Espectrográfica da Voz (PAEV). Métodos foram recrutados dez fonoaudiólogos e dez alunos de graduação em Fonoaudiologia, que aplicaram o PAEV em dez espectrogramas, realizaram o julgamento dos itens do PAEV e participaram de uma entrevista cognitiva. A partir das respostas, o PAEV foi reanalisado para reformulação ou para exclusão de itens. Utilizou-se o teste Qui-Quadrado e os valores de acurácia para análise das respostas dos questionários, assim como análise qualitativa dos dados da entrevista cognitiva. Resultados os participantes obtiveram acurácia maior que 70% na maioria dos itens do PAE. Apenas sete itens alcançaram acurácia menor ou igual a 70%. Houve diferença entre as respostas de presença versus ausência de dificuldade na identificação dos itens no espectrograma. A maioria dos participantes não teve dificuldade na identificação dos itens do PAEV. Na entrevista cognitiva, apenas seis itens não obtiveram correta identificação da intenção, conforme verificado na análise qualitativa. Além disso, os participantes sugeriram exclusão de cinco itens. Conclusão após a etapa de validação baseada nos processos de resposta, o PAEV foi reformulado. Sete itens foram excluídos e dois itens foram reformulados. Dessa forma, a versão final do PAEV após essa etapa foi reduzida de 25 para 18 itens, distribuídos nos cinco domínios.

ABSTRACT Purpose To develop the validity step based on the response processes of the Spectrographic Analysis Protocol (SAP). Methods 10 speech therapists and 10 undergraduate students of the Speech Therapy course were recruited, who applied the SAP in 10 spectrograms, performed the evaluation of the PAE items, and participated in a cognitive interview (CI). The SAP was reanalyzed to reformulate or exclude items based on the responses. The chi-square test and the accuracy values were used to analyze the answers to the questionnaires and qualitative analysis of the CI data. Results the participants achieved accuracy > 70% in most items of the SAP. Only seven items achieved accuracy ≤ 70%. There was a difference between presence vs. absence of difficulty in identifying items in the spectrogram. Most participants had no problem identifying the SAP items. In the CI, only six items did not correctly identify the intention, verified in the qualitative analysis. In addition, participants suggested excluding five items. Conclusion After the validation step based on the response processes, the SAP is reformulated. Seven items were deleted, and two items were reformulated. Thus, the final version of the SAP after this stage was reduced from 25 to 18 items, distributed in the five domains.

Voice and Communication Training Program Improves Performance of University Students in Oral Presentations. / Programa de Treinamento em Voz e Comunicação Melhora o Desempenho de Universitários em Apresentações Orais.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of a voice and communication training program for oral presentations on higher education students. METHODS: The proposed training program was based on the areas of social skills, voice projection techniques, and neurolinguistic programming. Thirty-eight students participated in the training with active learning methodologies at the university. Before and after the intervention, the participants recorded a short oral presentation on a topic of their choice. The recording was presented to the other participants and to a panel formed by three examiners (two articulation therapists and a psychologist), who evaluated the oral presentation performances. Moreover, each individual self-assessed their communication. The evaluation criteria covered the linguistic aspects, formal and non-formal, verbal and non-verbal communication, planning, and elaboration of the presentation. RESULTS: All participants improved their performance in oral presentations regarding verbal and para-verbal aspects, ability to keep the audience, emotional control, planning, objective, content, approach, organization, visual resource, form of presentation, language, and general elements (general presentation). CONCLUSION: The proposed training program is effective in improving the performance of university students in oral presentations.

OBJETIVO: Investigar o efeito de um programa de treinamento em voz e comunicação para apresentações orais em estudantes de ensino superior. MÉTODO: O programa de treinamento proposto foi baseado nas áreas das habilidades sociais, técnicas de projeção vocal e expressividade e a programação neurolinguística, sendo composto de dez sessões com duração média de duas horas cada. Trinta e oito estudantes participaram do treinamento com metodologias ativas de aprendizagem na própria universidade. Antes e após a intervenção, os participantes realizaram uma apresentação oral sobre um tópico da própria escolha, apresentada aos demais participantes e para uma banca formada por três juízes (dois fonoaudiólogos e um psicólogo), que avaliaram o desempenho nas apresentações orais. As apresentações foram gravadas para que cada indivíduo pudesse realizar a autoavaliação da sua comunicação. Os critérios de avaliação foram os aspectos linguísticos formais e não formais, verbais e não verbais, planejamento e elaboração da apresentação. RESULTADOS: todos os participantes obtiveram melhora de desempenho nas apresentações orais, quanto aos aspectos verbais, não verbais, capacidade de manter a audiência, controle emocional, planejamento, objetivo, conteúdo, abordagem, organização, recurso visual, forma de apresentar, linguagem e geral (apresentação geral). CONCLUSÃO: o programa de treinamento apresentado é efetivo para melhorar o desempenho de universitários durante apresentações orais.

What Factors Determine the Use of Volitional and Non-Volitional Devices in Vocal Interventions Performed by Brazilian Speech-Language Pathologists?

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the determining factors for using devices in vocal interventions and characterize their use by Brazilian speech-language pathologists (SLPs). METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study had a sample of 148 SLPs with clinical practice in voice. They answered an online questionnaire via Google Forms about sociodemographic data, training, work in the area, and the use of devices in vocal interventions. Data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially. RESULTS: Tubes, straws, and masks were the most commonly used devices. SLPs specializing in voice are more inclined to use thermotherapy and kinesio tapings while being less inclined to use therapeutic ultrasounds and nebulizers. Voice specialists are less likely to employ electrostimulation. The choice to use photobiomodulation and auditory monitoring devices is influenced by the years of clinical experience, whereas the speech-language therapy training duration affects the use of electrostimulation. The age of the professional also plays a role in the utilization of vibratory stimulation. Vibratory stimulation, auditory monitoring devices, thermotherapy, and nebulization are more frequently utilized among individuals who rely on their voices for occupational purposes, whereas electrostimulation is less common. The use of photobiomodulation is infrequent in children; vibratory stimulation is more common in adolescents, and thermotherapy is relatively common among older individuals. Most of these devices are typically prescribed in execution time during vocal intervention. CONCLUSION: The specialization, the time since graduation and in the occupation, and the target population of the service are the determining factors for the use of devices. They are used in vocal therapy and training, targeting vocal function.

VoxMore: technological artifact to assist voice acoustic evaluation in the teaching-learning process and clinical practice. / VoxMore: artefato tecnológico para auxiliar a avaliação acústica da voz no processo ensino-aprendizagem e prática clínica.

PURPOSE: to present a technological artifact, the VoxMore plugin, to assist the academic teaching of voice acoustic assessment, as well as to optimize the speech therapy intervention in the practice of vocal clinics. METHODS: this is a multidisciplinary methodological study for the development of a technological artifact, a plugin, to be used in the Praat software. This tool performs vocal acoustic analysis and generates a report, with information and images referring to the domains of time, frequency, time-frequency, and que-frequency, as well as values of acoustic measures related to fundamental frequency (f0), period measures, disturbance measures of the period of f0, f0 amplitude perturbation measurements, spectral measurements, glottal noise measurements and cepstral measurements. RESULTS: in the VoxMore acoustic report, four files are generated with the following information: oscillograms of the voice signal and traces of f0 and intensity; images related to the frequency domain, Fourier spectrum and LPC spectrum, and to the time-frequency domain, spectrogram; information on cepstral and cepstrogram analysis; the values of all acoustic measurements, in numerical results format and in vertical bar graphs. CONCLUSION: VoxMore can contribute both to the teaching-learning process, acting as an auxiliary tool with a formative character in the undergraduate and graduate courses in Speech-Language Pathology, as well as to the clinical practice process, making the use of acoustic analysis in the vocal clinic feasible and supporting decision-making by speech-language pathologist.

OBJETIVO: apresentar um artefato tecnológico, o plugin VoxMore, para auxiliar o ensino acadêmico da avaliação acústica da voz, bem como otimizar a intervenção fonoaudiológica na prática da clínica vocal. MÉTODO: trata-se de um estudo metodológico de caráter multidisciplinar para o desenvolvimento de um artefato tecnológico, plugin, a ser utilizado no software Praat. Essa ferramenta realiza análise acústica vocal e gera um relatório, com informações e imagens referentes aos domínios do tempo, frequência, tempo-frequência, e quefrência, bem como valores de medidas acústicas relacionadas a frequência fundamental (f0), medidas de período, medidas de perturbação do período da f0, medidas de perturbação de amplitude da f0, medidas espectrais, medidas de ruído glotal e medidas cepstrais. RESULTADOS: no relatório acústico do VoxMore são gerados quatro arquivos com as seguintes informações: oscilogramas do sinal de voz e traçados da f0 e intensidade; imagens relacionadas ao domínio da frequência, espectro de Fourier e espectro de LPC, e ao domínio do tempo-frequência, espectrograma; informações sobre a análise cepstral e cepstrograma; valores de todas as medidas acústicas, no formato de resultados numéricos e em gráficos de barras verticais. CONCLUSÃO: o VoxMore pode contribuir tanto com o processo de ensino-aprendizagem, atuando como ferramenta auxiliar com caráter formativo nas disciplinas de graduação e pós-graduação em Fonoaudiologia, quanto com o processo da prática clínica, tornando viável a utilização da análise acústica na clínica vocal e apoiando a tomada de decisão dos fonoaudiólogos.

Spectral and cepstral measurements in women with behavioral dysphonia. / Medidas espectrais e cepstrais em mulheres com disfonia comportamental.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether there are differences in cepstral and spectral acoustic measures between women with behavioral dysphonia with and without laryngeal lesions and verify whether there is a correlation between such measures and the auditory-perceptual evaluation of voice quality. METHODS: The sample comprised 78 women with behavioral dysphonia without laryngeal lesions (BDWOL) and 68 with behavioral dysphonia with laryngeal lesions (vocal nodules) (BDWL). Cepstral peak prominence (CPP), cepstral peak prominence-smoothed (CPPS), spectral decrease, and H1-H2 (difference between the amplitude of the first and second harmonics) were extracted. They were submitted to the auditory-perceptual evaluation (APE) of the grade of hoarseness (GH), roughness (RO), breathiness (BR), and strain (ST). RESULTS: BDWL women had higher H1-H2 values and lower CPP and CPPS values than BDWOL women. More deviant voices had lower CPP and CPPS values. Breathy voices had lower CPP and CPPS values and higher H1-H2 values than rough ones. There was a weak negative correlation between CPP and RO, a moderate negative correlation with GH, and a strong negative correlation with BR. CPPS had a moderate negative correlation with GH, RO, and BR. H1-H2 had a weak positive correlation with BR. There was a weak positive correlation between spectral decrease and ST. CONCLUSION: H1-H2, CPP, and CPPS were different between BDWOL and BDWL women. Furthermore, cepstral and spectral measures were correlated with the different APE parameters.

OBJETIVO: Investigar se existem diferenças nas medidas acústicas cepstrais e espectrais entre mulheres com disfonia comportamental com e sem lesão laríngea, bem como verificar se existe correlação entre tais medidas e o julgamento perceptivo-auditivo da qualidade vocal. MÉTODO: Participaram 78 mulheres com disfonia comportamental sem lesão laríngea (DCSL) e 68 com disfonia comportamental com lesão laríngea (nódulos vocais) (DCCL). Foram extraídas as medidas CPP (cepstral peak prominence), CPPS (cepstral peak prominence smoothed), declínio espectral e H1-H2 (diferença entre a amplitude do primeiro e do segundo harmônico), assim como o julgamento perceptivo-auditivo (JPA) do grau geral de desvio vocal (GG), graus de rugosidade (GR), de soprosidade (GS) e de tensão (GT). RESULTADOS: Mulheres com DCCL apresentaram maiores valores de H1-H2 e menores valores no CPP e CPPS, em relação às mulheres com DCSL. As vozes mais desviadas apresentaram menores valores do CPP e CPPS. As vozes soprosas apresentaram menores valores de CPP e CPPS, assim como maior valor de H1-H2 em relação às vozes rugosas. Houve correlação negativa fraca entre o CPP e o GR, negativa moderada com o GG e negativa forte com o GS. O CPPS apresentou correlação negativa moderada com o GG, GR e GS. A medida H1-H2 apresentou correlação positiva fraca com o GS. Houve correlação positiva fraca entre o declínio espectral e o GT. CONCLUSÃO: As medidas acústicas H1-H2, CPP e CPPS apresentam diferenças entre mulheres com DCSL e DCCL. Além disso, há correlação entre as medidas cepstrais e espectrais e os diferentes parâmetros do JPA.

Spectrographic Voice Analysis Protocol (SAP): Convergent, Concurrent, and Accuracy Validity.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the convergent and concurrent validity of the Spectrographic Voice Analysis Protocol (SAP) and its accuracy to discriminate dysphonic from nondysphonic patients. METHOD: The study used 82 vowel /Ɛ/ samples and their respective narrowband spectrograms, analyzed with SAP. Cepstral peak prominence (CPP) and cepstral peak prominence smoothed (CPPS) verified the convergent validity of the SAP total score, while the general grade of vocal deviation (GG) verified the concurrent validity of the SAP total score. The ROC (receive operator curve) curve and its accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity values, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV), and positive likelihood ratio (LR+) and negative likelihood ratio (LR-) verified the accuracy of the SAP score to discriminate dysphonic from nondysphonic individuals. RESULTS: Dysphonic and nondysphonic had different SAP total scores. In the convergent validity, the SAP score had a weak and moderate negative correlation, respectively, with CPP and CPPS, as well as a moderate positive correlation with GG. SAP performed well in discriminating dysphonic from nondysphonic individuals (area under the curve = 82.0%; sensitivity = 91.7%; specificity = 51.7%; PPV = 93.7%; NPV = 44.0%; LR+ = 6.21; LR- = 0.53) based on the 8-point cutoff score. CONCLUSION: SAP has convergent validity with CPP and CPPS and concurrent validity with GG. The SAP total score performed well in discriminating dysphonic from nondysphonic individuals. However, the specificity, NPV, and LR- values justify cautiously using SAP, always in combination with other information in clinical voice assessment.

Proposal of requirements for the development of a training simulator for the auditory-perceptual judgment of voice. / Proposição de requisitos para o desenvolvimento de um simulador de treinamento para julgamento perceptivo-auditivo da voz.

PURPOSE: to identify a set of requirements for the development of an auditory-perceptual training simulator (APT) based on the experience of professors who provide APT. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study with a quantitative approach. Twenty-two professors answered an online questionnaire containing 31 items related to APT, involving items about the professional profile, conditions for APT in undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Speech Therapy, APT structure, and evaluation of the APT effect. RESULT: it was observed that there is a variation in APT procedures performed in Brazil. The main requirements indicated by the respondents for the APT involve the use of synthesized voices in the initial moments, followed by human voices later; the use of speech tasks with sustained vowels and connected speech; the insertion of complementary information such as gender, age, the profession of the speaker and the spectrography of the vocal signal; training with a minimum time of six hours; the evaluation of the training effect by comparing intra- and inter-judge agreement before and after training; the addition of the parameters of general degree of vocal deviation, roughness, breathiness, and strain; the use of validated continuous and numerical scales; and offering it from the second year of the undergraduate program. CONCLUSION: although there is variability in the response of experts, a minimum set of requirements indicated for performing APT with new judges was identified.

OBJETIVO: identificar um conjunto de requisitos para o desenvolvimento de um simulador de treinamento perceptivo-auditivo (TPA) a partir da experiência de docentes que realizam o TPA. MÉTODO: Trata-se de um estudo transversal, descritivo, com abordagem quantitativa. Vinte e dois docentes responderam um questionário online contendo 31 itens relacionados ao TPA, envolvendo itens sobre o perfil profissional, condições para o TPA nos cursos de graduação e pós-graduação em Fonoaudiologia, estrutura do TPA, avaliação do efeito do TPA. RESULTADO: observou-se que existe variação nos procedimentos de TPA realizados no Brasil. Os principais requisitos indicados pelos respondentes para o TPA envolvem o uso de vozes sintetizadas nos momentos iniciais, seguindo para vozes humanas posteriormente; a utilização de tarefas de fala com vogais sustentadas e fala encadeada; a inserção de informações complementares tais como o gênero, idade, profissão do falante e a espectrografia do sinal vocal; treinamento com tempo mínimo de seis horas; a avaliação do efeito do treinamento pela comparação da concordância intra e inter-juizes pré e pós treinamento; a adição dos parâmetros de grau geral de desvio vocal, rugosidade, soprosidade e tensão; a utilização de escalas contínuas e numéricas validadas; e ser realizado a partir do segundo ano de graduação. CONCLUSÃO: embora haja uma variabilidade da resposta dos especialistas, foi identificado um conjunto mínimo de requisitos indicados para a realização de TPA com novos juízes.

Opinion of speech-language pathologist on the use of photobiomodulation in the vocal clinic. / Opinião de fonoaudiólogos sobre uso da fotobiomodulação na clínica vocal.

PURPOSE: to investigate the opinion of Brazilian speech-language pathologists on the training, performance, and parameters used for the application of photobiomodulation (PBM) in the vocal clinic. METHODS: observational, cross-sectional, and quantitative study, carried out through a web survey hosted on the Google Forms digital platform, composed of questions related to training, professional performance, and knowledge about PBM in the voice area. Twenty-nine speech-language pathologists of both sexes participated. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: all participants knew the theoretical foundations of PBM, and among them, 28 (96.6%) knew its use specifically in the voice area; twenty-five respondents (86.2%) had a device to perform the irradiation, and all of them used it routinely in their clinical practice in voice. The majority (96.6%, 28) participated in a PBM training course, including specific approaches to the voice area. Participants stated that PBM is a resource that can be used in the area of ​​voice to improve performance in sung (86.2%, 25) and spoken (82.8%, 24), in addition to its application in cases of inflammatory processes in the vocal folds (79.3%, 23). As for dosimetry parameters, the most used wavelength was 808 - 830nm (37.9%, 11) and 660/808nm simultaneously (37.9%, 11), with a dose of 3-5 J per point for the patients with inflammatory processes in the vocal folds (51.7%, 15) and 6-9 J (44.8%, 13) per point for patients whose objective was improvement/conditioning. CONCLUSION: the study participants demonstrated knowledge and training in PBM and its applicability to the voice area.

OBJETIVO: investigar a opinião de fonoaudiólogos brasileiros sobre a formação, atuação e parâmetros utilizados para aplicação da fotobiomodulação (PBM) na clínica vocal. MÉTODO: utilizou-se uma websurvey no Google Forms composta por questões relacionadas à formação, atuação profissional e conhecimentos sobre a PBM na área de voz. Participaram 29 fonoaudiólogos, de ambos os sexos. Os dados foram analisados utilizando a estatística descritiva. RESULTADOS: todos os participantes conheciam os fundamentos teóricos da PBM e entre eles, vinte e oito (96,6%) conheciam sua utilização especificamente na área de voz; vinte e cinco respondentes (86,2%) possuíam aparelho para fazer a irradiação e todos o utilizavam rotineiramente em sua prática clínica em voz. A maioria (28, 96,6%) participou de curso de capacitação em PBM, incluindo abordagens específicas para a área de voz. Os participantes afirmaram que a PBM é um recurso que pode ser utilizado na área de voz para melhorar a performance na voz cantada (25, 86,2%) e falada (24, 82,8%), além da sua aplicação em casos de processos inflamatórios nas pregas vocais (23, 79,3%). Quanto aos parâmetros de dosimetria, o comprimento de onda mais utilizado foi de 808 - 830nm (11, 37,9%) e 660/808nm simultaneamente (11, 37,9%), com dose de 3-5 J por ponto para os pacientes com processos inflamatórios nas pregas vocais (15, 51,7%,) e de 6-9 J (13, 44,8%) por ponto para os pacientes cujo objetivo era o aperfeiçoamento/condicionamento. CONCLUSÃO: os participantes do estudo demonstraram ter conhecimento e formação em PBM e suas aplicabilidades para a área de voz.

Translation into Brazilian Portuguese and transcultural adaptation of the Apraxia of Speech Rating Scale 3.5. / Tradução e adaptação transcultural do Apraxia of Speech Rating Scale 3.5 para o português brasileiro.

PURPOSE: To present the translation into Brazilian Portuguese and cross-cultural adaptation of the Apraxia of Speech Rating Scale (ASRS) version 3.5. METHODS: Validation study restricted to translation and cross-cultural adaptation. The following steps were carried out: translation and synthesis of translations; verification of applicability of the scale synthesis by judges recruited for this purpose; analysis of the relevance and feasibility of the scale calculated by the Content Validity Index (CVI), individual (CVI-I) and total (CVI-T). Eighteen speech therapists were selected. Their answers were used for the analysis of agreement (intraclass correlation coefficients - ICC) and for the calculation of the Content Validity Index (CVI). Finally, the synthesis of the translation was matched in terms of semantic, idiomatic, experiential, conceptual, syntactic, grammatical, and operational equivalence. RESULTS: The ICC ranged between 0.83 and 0.94. Six items obtained values higher than 0.9. The other items presented values between 0.8 and 0.9. The CVI-I and CVI-T had excellent values (CVI ≥ 0.78) for relevance and feasibility. CONCLUSION: The Brazilian version of the ASRS 3.5 presents semantic, idiomatic, experiential, conceptual, and syntactic/grammatical equivalence to the original document. Thus, it is ready for the next validation steps.

OBJETIVO: Apresentar a tradução e adaptação transcultural do Apraxia of Speech Rating Scale (ASRS) versão 3.5 para o português brasileiro. MÉTODO: Estudo de validação restrito à tradução e adaptação transcultural. Foram realizadas as seguintes etapas: tradução e síntese das traduções; verificação da aplicabilidade da síntese da escala por juízes, recrutados para tal finalidade; análise da relevância e da viabilidade da escala, calculadas pelo Índice de Validade de Conteúdo (IVC) individual (IVC-I) e total (IVC-T). Foram selecionados 18 fonoaudiólogos, cujas respostas foram utilizadas para a análise de concordância (coeficientes de correlação intraclasse - CCI) e o cálculo do Índice de Validade de Conteúdo (IVC). Por fim, a síntese da tradução foi equiparada quanto à equivalência semântica, idiomática, experiencial, conceitual, sintática, gramatical e operacional. RESULTADOS: O CCI variou entre 0,83 e 0,94. Seis itens obtiveram valores superiores a 0,9. Os demais itens apresentaram valores entre 0,8 e 0,9. O IVC-I e IVC-T apresentaram excelentes valores (IVC ≥ 0,78) para a relevância e viabilidade. CONCLUSÃO: A versão brasileira do ASRS 3.5 apresenta equivalência semântica, idiomática, experiencial, conceitual e sintática/gramatical em relação ao original, dessa forma, está apta para as próximas etapas de validação.

Performance of the phonatory deviation diagram in monitoring voice quality before and after voice exercise in individuals with Parkinson's Disease. / Desempenho do diagrama de desvio fonatório no monitoramento da qualidade vocal pré e pós exercício vocal em indivíduos com Doença de Parkinson.

PURPOSE: To assess the performance of the phonatory deviation diagram and its measurements in monitoring voice quality before and after voice exercise in individuals with Parkinson's Disease. METHODS: Retrospective and documentary study. A sample of 30 subjects was used, 50% male, with a mean age of 62.13 ± 9.05 years. The results of the phonatory deviation diagram were analyzed, in the moments before and after vocal exercise with the pushing technique associated with plosive sounds, considering the area, density, shape and location of the diagram in the quadrants. For comparison purposes, the acoustic parameters of jitter, shimmer, glottal to noise excitation ratio and results of the auditory-perceptual analysis, carried out in previous research, were also considered, in the pre- and post-technical moments. RESULTS: Despite the fact that there was no difference in the distribution of samples in the diagram, after performing the vocal technique, a change in the displacement of the diagram towards the area of normality was identified in the visual qualitative analysis, and there was an association between the general degree of vocal deviation in the analysis auditory perception and the area of the diagram. There was an improvement in the shimmer values after the vocal technique. CONCLUSION: The displacement of the phonatory deviation diagram towards the area of normality corroborated the results in relation to the general degree of dysphonia, evaluated by the auditory-perceptual analysis and the shimmer results, after the vocal technique. Thus, the diagram shows good performance in monitoring voice quality of individuals with Parkinson's.

OBJETIVO: Verificar o desempenho do diagrama de desvio fonatório e de suas medidas no monitoramento da qualidade da voz, pré e pós exercício vocal, em indivíduos com Doença de Parkinson. MÉTODO: Estudo retrospectivo e documental. Utilizou-se uma amostra de 30 sujeitos, sendo 50% do sexo masculino, com média de idade de 62,13 ± 9,05 anos. Foram analisados os resultados do diagrama de desvio fonatório, nos momentos pré e pós exercício vocal com a técnica de empuxo associada aos sons plosivos, considerando-se a área, densidade, forma e localização do diagrama nos quadrantes. Para fins de comparação, os parâmetros acústicos de jitter, shimmer, glottal to noise excitation ratio e resultados da análise perceptivo-auditiva, realizada em pesquisa anterior, também foram considerados, nos momentos pré e pós-técnica. RESULTADOS: A despeito de não ocorrer diferença na distribuição das amostras no diagrama, após realização da técnica vocal, foi identificada, na análise qualitativa visual, mudança no deslocamento do diagrama em direção à área de normalidade e houve associação entre o grau geral do desvio vocal da análise perceptivoauditiva e a área do diagrama. Houve melhora nos valores de shimmer, após a técnica vocal. CONCLUSÃO: O deslocamento do diagrama de desvio fonatório em direção à área de normalidade corroborou os resultados em relação ao grau geral de disfonia avaliado pela análise perceptivoauditiva e os resultados de shimmer, após a técnica vocal empregada. Desse modo, o diagrama de desvio fonatório apresentou bom desempenho no monitoramento da qualidade vocal de indivíduos com Parkinson.

Differences and Reliability of Linear and Nonlinear Acoustic Measures as a Function of Vocal Intensity in Individuals With Voice Disorders.

PURPOSE: Linear acoustic indices are significantly influenced by speaking voice intensity. The main aim of this work was to compare acoustic measures based on linear and nonlinear models in different speaking voice intensity levels and to analyze the reliability of those measures in different intensity levels in subjects with voice disorders. METHODS: 435 samples from subjects (314 women, 121 men with a mean age of 41.07 ± 13.73) diagnosed with various voice disorders were used. In total, 17 acoustic measures were derived from the vowel /ɛ/ sustained at three intensity levels (soft, comfortable, and loud). Five were linear (standard deviation of the fundamental frequency (f0), jitter, shimmer, harmonics-to-noise ratio (HNR) and smoothed cepstral peak prominence (CPPS)), and twelve were nonlinear measures, namely correlation dimension (D2), correlation entropy (H2), first minimum of the mutual information function (FMMI), relative entropy (ENTR-R), largest Lyapunov exponent (Lyap), determinism (DET), transitivity, mean diagonal line length (Lmed), Shannon entropy (ENTR-S), mean length of vertical structures, also known as trapping time (TT), laminarity (LAM) and recurrence period density entropy (RPDE). Differences between speaking voice intensity levels were assessed by Friedman's test and Nemenyi as posthoc test. Intraclass correlation coefficient was used to investigate if each acoustic measure remains in agreement (reliability) between different voice intensity levels. RESULTS: There were significant differences in all acoustic measures about vocal intensity level (P < 0.001). Intraclass correlation coefficient was very good for HNR (>0.61) and good for Lyap, DET, ENTR-S, Lmed, RPDE, and TT (0.41-0.60). CONCLUSIONS: All acoustic measures varied as a function of vocal intensity in voice disordered adults, while this relation was different for linear and nonlinear measures. Only the measures HNR, Lyap, DET, ENTR-S, Lmed, RPDE and TT had an acceptable reliability between different voice intensity levels. Therefore, patient`s voice SPL should be controlled or indicated during acoustic vocal assessment.

Effectiveness of a Blended-Learning Intervention in Teachers' Vocal Health.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the effectiveness of a blended-learning voice assistance program for elementary school teachers. STUDY DESIGN: Nonrandomized and comparative interventional clinical trial. METHODS: A total of 59 teachers participated; 33 of the 59 teachers participated in face-to-face learning (control group-CG), and 26 of the 59 teachers participated in blended learning (experimental group-EG). The Voice Assistance Program included the following for both groups: preintervention assessment, four voice workshops and postintervention assessment. The instruments used were the Vocal Production Condition - Teacher (VPC-T) questionnaire, the Screening Index for Voice Disorder (SIVD), the Vocal Health and Hygiene Questionnaire (VHHQ) and the Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) measure. Additionally, voice samples were collected for auditory-perceptual analysis of voice quality. The workshops included theoretical and practical content for both groups. All the workshops for the CG were conducted face-to-face, while the workshops for the EG consisted of two online workshops and two face-to-face workshops. A descriptive analysis of the data was performed, and paired Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests were performed using R software, with a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: Both groups showed improved acquisition of knowledge regarding vocal health and improved voice quality, but the improvement was greater for the EG. There was a significant decrease in the risk of voice disorder in the EG. Only the CG showed significant improvement in voice-related quality of life. CONCLUSION: The voice assistance program with blended learning is effective for increasing knowledge about vocal health, reducing the risk of voice disorder and improving the voice quality of teachers.

Cough Severity Index: Validation in Brazilian Portuguese.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a validity profile for the cough severity index in the Brazilian Portuguese language (CSI-Br). METHODS: The study sample consisted of 100 participants divided into Chronic Cough Group (CG; 50 individuals with a mean age of 46.4; standard deviation [SD]: 11.7) and Healthy Control Group (HCG; 50 individuals with a mean age of 33.0 [SD: 12.3]). The data collection procedures were as follows: (a) application of CSI-Br for all participants; (b) application of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI)-10 and the Newcastle Laryngeal Hypersensitivity Questionnaire (LHQ-Br) in the CG; (c) application of CSI-Br for test-retest reliability with an interim of between 2-14 days. The CSI-Br validation was composed of five stages: construct validity, reliability, reproducibility, convergent validity, and discriminant validity. RESULTS: In construct validity, the instrument identified two factors and explained 67.6% of the total variance. The reliability had a value of a=0.914. Reproducibility showed an ICC value of 0.909. CSI-Br showed a negative correlation with VHI-10 and a positive correlation with LHQ-Br in convergent validity. In discriminant validity, all items and factors differentiated participants in the CG from those in the HCG. CONCLUSION: The ten-item CSI-Br with two factors is reliable and valid for analyzing the severity of chronic cough symptoms in Brazilian individuals.

Validation of Newcastle Laryngeal Hypersensitivity Questionnaire (LHQ-Br) in Brazilian Portuguese.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the validity of the Newcastle Laryngeal Hypersensitivity Questionnaire (LHQ-Br) in Brazilian Portuguese. METHODS: The present study sample consisted of 89 individuals from the laryngeal hypersensitivity group and 41 individuals from the healthy group. The Newcastle Laryngeal Hypersensitivity Questionnaire's validation process for Brazilian Portuguese was composed of five stages: construct validity, reliability of internal consistency, and reliability regarding reproducibility, convergent validity, and discriminant validity. The software SPSS 25.0 was used. A significance level of 5% was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: In construct validation, it was observed that the instrument was unifactorial; however, it was necessary to exclude two items with a low commonality that did not fit the model. The final instrument consisted of 12 items, and a factor called total, which explained 70.55% of the variance. In the internal consistency analysis, Cronbach's alpha was 0.962. The reproducibility had an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.949. In terms of convergent validity, there was a negative correlation between the total domain of the LHQ-Br and the total Cough Severity Index translated and adapted for the Brazilian Portuguese (P = 0.001) and total Voice Handicap Index - 10 (P < 0.001). Discriminant validity showed that ten items and the total factor differentiated healthy group individuals from those in the laryngeal hypersensitivity group. CONCLUSION: The 12-item LHQ-Br is valid and reliable for measuring the self-perception of laryngeal sensation associated with Brazilian patients with laryngeal hypersensitivity syndrome.

Treinamento para análise perceptivo-auditiva da voz: revisão de escopo / Training for perceptive-auditory voice analysis: scope review

RESUMO Objetivo sintetizar o estado do conhecimento científico sobre treinamento para análise perceptivo-auditiva da voz. Estratégias de pesquisa a estratégia PCC (População, Conceito e Contexto) e combinações de descritores foram utilizadas para busca nas bases de dados PubMed/MEDLINE, LILACS e SciELO. Critérios de seleção foram incluídos estudos com população composta por ouvintes com ou sem experiência na análise perceptivo-auditiva, que incluíssem a análise perceptivo-auditiva da voz, no contexto da clínica vocal, utilizando vozes humanas e/ou sintetizadas, com treinamento individual ou em grupo. Foram observados método de treinamento, vozes utilizadas, tempo de treinamento e se houve treino de habilidades auditivas centrais. Resultados A literatura consultada mostrou ser comum o uso de âncoras auditivas, feedback, vozes naturais soprosas e rugosas e tempo de treinamento com duração máxima de duas horas. Nenhum estudo aplicou o treino de habilidades de processamento auditivo central no treinamento para avaliação perceptivo-auditiva da voz. Conclusão ainda não há consenso sobre qual é o melhor programa de treinamento para análise perceptivo-auditiva da voz.

ABSTRACT Purpose To synthesize the state of scientific knowledge about training for auditory-perceptual voice analysis. Research strategy Question, Concept and Context and combinations of descriptors were formulated for searching in PubMed/Medline, LILACS and SciELO databases. Selection criteria Studies were included with a population composed of listeners with or without experience in auditory-perceptual analysis, which included auditory-perceptual voice analysis, in the context of vocal clinic, using human and/or synthesized voices, with individual or group training. Training method, voices used, training time and whether there was training in central auditory skills were observed. Results It is common to use auditory anchors, feedback, breathy and rough natural voices and training time with a maximum duration of two hours. No study applied the training of central auditory processing skills in training for auditory-perceptual voice assessment. Conclusion There is still no consensus on what is the best training program for auditory-perceptual voice analysis.