[Suitability of the Munich List of Quality of Life Dimensions (MLDL) for use in logopedic therapy research].

Public health policy increasingly focuses on criteria of cost and cost-effectiveness for health care financing. However, tools for assessing the effects of logopedic therapy are largely missing. This study investigated the suitability of the Munich List of Quality-of-Life-Dimensions (MLDL) for use with patients with dysphonia. Twenty-five adults with voice disorders were administered the MLDL at the beginning and at the end of therapy (about 20 sessions). Results were that, although most patients expressed high satisfaction with the therapy received, MLDL scores did not reflect this. Only 2 out of 19 items of the scale indicated a significant improvement in the quality of life after therapy ("ability to relax", p < 0.05, and "satisfaction with the treatment of the disorder", p < 0.01). The MLDL is not sensitive enough to detect all effects of logopedic therapy. The development of specific scales for the detection of effects of logopedic intervention is discussed.