Speech Pathology-Specific Questionnaire for Persons with Multiple Sclerosis (SMS): adaptation, validation and preliminary assessment of the diagnostic potential.

IntroductionSpeech and voice disorders are among the least well-described clinical manifestations of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) although their estimated prevalence reaches 40–50%. The aim present study was adaptation validation Speech Pathology-Specific Questionnaire for Persons with (SMS) into Polish language to be used as part diagnostic procedure quantify important speech-related changes improve individual tailoring therapeutic activities.Material MethodsThe included a total number 178 participants. group consisted 107 patients diagnosed Sclerosis, mean age 42.8±11.6 years Control Group were 71 healthy sex matched normophonic subjects, 44.2±12.5 no neurological symptoms. Translated version SMS administered all participants study. Voice Handicap Index (VHI) questionnaire comparison purposes. Test-retest reproducibility, internal consistency, floor ceiling effects, discriminant validity construct investigated. Preliminary assessment value conducted on basis results recorded in duration-related quartiles Study Group.ResultsHigh Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC= 0 .930) obtained test-retest indicates good level reproducibility SMS. High Cronbach's alpha (α=0.94) proves test's consistency. There effects test score they negligible Group. A significant difference scores between controls (14.22 points vs. 6.06 points) shows Similar differences observed subscales (in t test: p<0.001). statistically correlation found its subscales, well proving test. Similarly, correlations VHI (r=.817, p <0.001) particular VHI. distinguished highest values (20 suffering from MS over 15 years. Conclusion: psychometric properties indicate that it is valid patient-reported outcome measure suitable speech-language pathology aspects population can an complementary tool practice.