2023 Volume 64 Issue 1 Pages 1-9
In this study, we examined the effects of differences in vocal tasks and rating scales on auditory perceptual evaluation of hoarseness, using the GRBAS scale and Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V). We compared "sustained vowel" with "sustained vowel + 4 short sentences" as vocal tasks, and the Verbal Rating Scale (VRS) with Visual Analog Scale (VAS) as rating scales. Three evaluators, two otolaryngologists and a speech-language therapist with more than 10 years of clinical experience in voice disorders, evaluated grade (G) or overall severity, rough (R) or roughness, and breathy (B) or breathiness.
The reliability of the VRS was higher for "sustained vowel + 4 short sentences" than for "sustained vowel" alone (ICC(2,1) = 0.803-0.925). The VAS was also more reliable for "sustained vowel + 4 short sentences," except for roughness (ICC(2,1) = 0.904, 0.937). The VAS was more reliable than the VRS (ICC(2,1) = 0.677-0.896, 0.803-0.937). Adding 4 short sentences to a sustained vowel was evaluated as showing significantly more severity in the VRS for breathy (B) and in the VAS for overall severity and breathiness ratings. This suggests that the addition of short sentences to a sustained vowel vocal task may have some effect on auditory perceptual evaluation of hoarseness.
