Validation of the Dysphonia Severity Index in the Dr. Speech Program

HaKyung Kim; ShaoHua Gao; Bin Yi; RunJie Shi; Qin Wan; ZhaoMing Huang

doi:10.1016/j.jvoice.2019.08.011

Validation of the Dysphonia Severity Index in the Dr. Speech Program

J Voice. 2019 Nov;33(6):948.e23-948.e29. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2019.08.011. Epub 2019 Sep 13.

Authors

HaKyung Kim¹, ShaoHua Gao², Bin Yi³, RunJie Shi⁴, Qin Wan⁵, ZhaoMing Huang⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Education and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: shirunjie9h@163.com.
² NingBo College of Health Sciences, NingBo, China.
³ Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Laboratory of Auditory Neuroscience, Ear Institute, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, China.
⁴ Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Laboratory of Auditory Neuroscience, Ear Institute, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: hgjin@spe.ecnu.edu.cn.
⁵ Department of Education and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.

PMID: 31526665
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2019.08.011

Abstract

Purpose: The Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI) is an objective multiparameter index of voice quality that measures and describes overall voice quality. Some studies have suggested that the reliability of devices for DSI measurement should be examined. We explored the feasibility of DSI measurements using the Dr. Speech (DRS) device, verified its effectiveness for clinical voice measurements and intradevice reliability, and examined the correlation between the DSI and self-evaluations of voice problems.

Methods: Seventy adult participants (including individuals with voice problems and healthy adults) underwent objective and subjective voice assessments. These data were then used to establish a DSI_DRS model and test the intradevice (DRS device and Praat software) reliability. The clinical validation of the DSI_DRS was conducted by measuring the DSI of six other participants and comparing the observed and predicted perceived voice quality as expressed by the G score (of the GRBAS scale). Moreover, the relationship between the DSI measurements and participants' self-evaluations of voice problems was investigated by analyzing the correlation between the DSI and the Voice Handicap Index (VHI).

Results: The DSI_DRS discriminated 80% of participants' voice quality ratings. There were strong correlations between the DSI and variables measured by the DRS device and Praat software. Furthermore, there was no significant correlation between the DSI_DRS and VHI.

Conclusion: The DRS device can perform DSI measurements. Objective voice measurements and perceptual voice ratings reflected different aspects of vocal function and its effects. These factors should be considered in clinical practice settings.

Keywords: Dr. Speech device; Dysphonia Severity Index; Objective assessment; Validation; Voice Handicap Index.

Publication types

Validation Study

MeSH terms

Acoustics* / instrumentation
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Case-Control Studies
Disability Evaluation*
Dysphonia / diagnosis*
Dysphonia / physiopathology
Feasibility Studies
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Phonation
Predictive Value of Tests
Reproducibility of Results
Severity of Illness Index
Speech Acoustics*
Speech Production Measurement* / instrumentation
Voice Quality*
Young Adult