Is OperaVOX a clinically useful tool for the assessment of voice in a general ENT clinic?
نویسندگان
چکیده
BACKGROUND Objective acoustic analysis is a key component of multidimensional voice assessment. OperaVOX is an iOS app which has been shown to be comparable to Multi Dimensional Voice Program for most principal measures of vocal function. As a relatively cheap, portable and easily accessible form of acoustic analysis, OperaVOX may be more clinically useful than laboratory-based software in many situations. This study aims to determine whether correlation exists between acoustic measurements obtained using OperaVOX, and perceptual evaluation of voice. METHODS Forty-four voices from the multidisciplinary voice clinic were examined. Each voice was assessed blindly by a single experienced voice therapist using the GRBAS scale, and analysed using OperaVOX. The Spearman rank correlation co-efficient was calculated between each element of the GRBAS scale and acoustic measurements obtained by OperaVOX. RESULTS Significant correlations were identified between GRBAS scores and OperaVOX parameters. Grade correlated significantly with jitter (ρ = 0.495, p < 0.05), shimmer (ρ = 0.385, p < 0.05), noise-to-harmonic ratio (NHR; ρ = 0.526, p < 0.05) and maximum phonation time (MPT; ρ = -0.415, p < 0.05). Roughness did not correlate with any of the measured variables. Breathiness correlated significantly with jitter (ρ = 0.342, p < 0.05), NHR (ρ = 0.344, p < 0.05) and MPT (ρ = -0.336, p < 0.05). Aesthenia correlated with NHR (ρ = 0.413, p < 0.05) and MPT (ρ = -0.399, p < 0.05). Strain correlated with Jitter (ρ = 0.560, p < 0.05), NHR (ρ = 0.600, p < 0.05) and MPT (ρ = -0.356, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS OperaVOX provides objective acoustic analysis which has shown statistically significant correlation to perceptual evaluation using the GRBAS scale. The accessibility of the software package makes it possible for a wide range of health practitioners, e.g. general ENT surgeons, vascular surgeons, thyroid surgeons and cardiothoracic surgeons to objectively monitor outcomes and complications of surgical procedures that may affect vocal function. Given the increasing requirement for surgeons to monitor their outcomes as part of the move towards 'surgeon reported outcomes' this may become an invaluable tool towards that goal.
منابع مشابه
The Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool: A useful tool for pain assessment in intensive care units
Pain is a major concern in all intensive care units (ICUs). The proper assessment and management of pain is one of the main goals of patient care in ICUs. Improper evaluation of pain and its over or under treatment can cause significant problems in the process of patient management in ICU. Since most ICU patients are unable to communicate correctly with the ICU team and explain their level of p...
متن کاملA Single Voice Prosthesis Utilized For 17 Years
Introduction: Surgical procedures, especially total laryngectomy, have a profound adverse effect on the patient's physical, functional, as well as emotional health, and strongly decrease quality of life. Tracheoesophageal puncture is one of the most significant method that is widely performed successfully by physicians. Current valve technology enables long expiring duration; however, gen...
متن کاملImproving Voice Outcomes After Injury to the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve
Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the voice outcomes before and after the administration of voice therapy in patients who suffered an injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve after undergoing thyroidectomy. Methods: The sample consisted of 26 patients (2 males and 24 females) aged between 18 and 80 years (m=55±12) who experienced injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve fol...
متن کاملRole of PH Monitoring in Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Patients with Voice Disorders
Introduction: Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is considered an important cause of voice disorder. We aimed to determine the frequency of LPR in patients with voice disorder and the association between Koufman Reflux Symptom Index (RSI), Reflux Finding Score (RFS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and proximal acid reflux in these patients. Materials and Methods: We performed a prospective...
متن کاملDeveloping an Assessment Tool for Nursing Students` General Clinical Performance
Introduction: The necessity of valid and reliable assessment tools is one of the most emphasized issues in literature related to nursing students` clinical assessment. But it is believed that the present tools are mostly not valid and reliable, and can not measure students` performances properly. The aim of this study was to design a valid and reliable assessment tool for evaluation of nursing ...
متن کامل