ROC Analysis Cut-off Points of Hellenic Voice Handicap Index for Neurogenic Voice Disorders Patients: an Exploratory Study

Dionysios Tafiadis; Meropi E Helidoni; Spyridon K Chronopoulos; Evangelia I Kosma; Anna Alexandropoulou; Stylianos Velegrakis; Spyridon Konitsiotis; Nafsika Ziavra

doi:10.1016/j.jvoice.2020.09.008

ROC Analysis Cut-off Points of Hellenic Voice Handicap Index for Neurogenic Voice Disorders Patients: an Exploratory Study

J Voice. 2022 Nov;36(6):875.e25-875.e33. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2020.09.008. Epub 2020 Oct 2.

Authors

Dionysios Tafiadis¹, Meropi E Helidoni², Spyridon K Chronopoulos³, Evangelia I Kosma⁴, Anna Alexandropoulou⁵, Stylianos Velegrakis², Spyridon Konitsiotis⁶, Nafsika Ziavra⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Speech & Language Therapy, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece; Department of Speech & Language Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, European University, Nicosia, Cyprus. Electronic address: tafiadis@uoi.gr.
² Department of Otolaryngology, University of Crete, Crete, Iraklion, Greece.
³ Electronics-Telecommunications and Applications Laboratory, Physics Department, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
⁴ Department of Speech and Language Therapy, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
⁵ Department of Speech & Language Therapy, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
⁶ Department of Neurology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.

PMID: 33012628
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2020.09.008

Abstract

Objective: The inclusion of subjective methods for evaluating Voice Disorders is proven an essential factor for diagnosis as these methods include self-reported questionnaires (eg, Voice Handicap Index-VHI) for everyday clinical practice. In turn, by obtaining cut-off scores of self-perceived questionnaires intended for assessment procedures of different voice disorders (eg, patients with neurological problems), the clinicians might be helped toward finding their patients' needs leading to better monitoring, and treatment suggestions. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to estimate the cut-off scores for the Greek VHI relevant to patients with neurogenic voice disorders.

Methods: Ninety subjects participated in this research. Sixty-six of them served as the control group while the remaining 24 patients exhibited Neurogenic Voice Disorders (eg, spasmodic dysphonia or vocal fold paralysis). They filled in the VHI and the Voice Evaluation Template. All participants were examined with the use of video laryngeal endoscopy and stroboscopy.

Results: The analysis revealed higher medians in all domains (of the VHI) for the patients compared to the control group. The cut-off points were estimated at the values of 24.50 (Total Score-AUC 0.932, P = 0.000), 9.00 (Functional Domain-AUC 0.917, P = 0.000), 10.00 (Physical Domain-AUC 0.948, P = 0.000), and 9.00 (Emotional Domain-AUC 0.830, P = 0.000).

Conclusion: The estimated cut-off scores are in agreement with previous studies. These scores could probably used to enhance therapeutic monitoring of patients who suffer from neurogenic voice disorders. This study underlines the importance of considering different cutoff points for individuals with voice disorders due to diverse neurogenic etiologies.

Keywords: Cut-off Scores; Neurogenic disorders; Parkinson Disease; ROC Analysis; Statistical Analysis; Vocal Fold Paralysis; Voice Disorders; Voice Handicap Index.

MeSH terms

Disability Evaluation
Dysphonia* / diagnosis
Dysphonia* / etiology
Humans
ROC Curve
Severity of Illness Index
Surveys and Questionnaires
Voice Disorders* / diagnosis
Voice Disorders* / etiology
Voice Quality