What do the voice-related parameters tell us? The multiparametric index scores, cepstral-based methods, patient-reported outcomes, and durational measurements.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify how the acoustic parameters, patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and durational measurements differ based on perceptually rated dysphonia severity and to investigate their relationship with dysphonia severity.

METHODS

One hundred seventy-nine subjects (males-78, females-101; mean ± SD age of 47.79 ± 14.05 years) with various etiology of dysphonia were included in this prospective cohort study. The G parameter of GRBAS was used to rate dysphonia severity. The Acoustic Voice Quality Index (AVQI v. 03.01), Acoustic Breathiness Index (ABI), and cepstral peak prominence-smoothed (CPPS) values for sustained vowel (CPPSsv) and connected speech (CPPScs) samples were obtained using the Praat software. The Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) and Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) were used for PROs, and the maximum phonation time (MPT) and s/z ratio were measured as durational parameters.

RESULTS

The acoustic parameters, including AVQI and ABI scores, and CPPSsv and CPPScs values significantly differed based on dysphonia severity, particularly in those with moderate (G2) or severe dysphonia (G3) compared to those with normal (G0) and/or slightly deviated (G1) voice. Among the PROs, VHI-10 scores significantly differed only between the groups G1 and G2 (p < 0.005) and the groups G1 and G3 (p < 0.005), whilst there were not any significant differences between the V-RQOL scores of all the compared groups. Significant differences were observed within the groups for MPT, but the s/z ratio significantly differed only between the groups G1 and G3. Correlation analysis revealed significant relationships between the G parameter of GRBAS and all measured variables (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Particular attention should be paid to the AVQI and ABI scores, CPPsv and CPPcs values, VHI-10 scores, and MPT values since they provide valuable information for overall dysphonia severity.