Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026
12:43
A Protocol for Comprehensive Assessment of Bulbar Dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Published on: February 21, 2011
The relationship between perceptual evaluation and objective multiparametric evaluation of dysphonia severity
Marieke M Hakkesteegt1, Michael P Brocaar, Marjan H Wieringa
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands. m.hakkesteegt@erasmusmc.nl
Summary
The Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI) objectively measures voice disorder severity, correlating with perceptual assessments and differentiating patient groups. This tool aids in evaluating dysphonia effectively.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Speech-Language Pathology
- Acoustic Analysis
Background:
- Dysphonia, or voice disorder, requires objective assessment tools.
- Current perceptual evaluations like the GRBAS scale have limitations.
- The Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI) offers a multiparametric approach.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI) as an objective measure for dysphonia.
- To compare DSI with the GRBAS scale's Grade score.
- To assess DSI's ability to reflect dysphonia severity and differentiate patient groups.
Main Methods:
- Inclusion of 294 patients with voice pathologies and 118 healthy controls.
- Perceptual evaluation using the GRBAS scale (Grade) and objective DSI measurement.
- Statistical analysis to compare DSI scores between patient and control groups and correlate with Grade.
Main Results:
- Patients with voice complaints exhibited lower DSI scores and higher Grade scores than controls.
- A significant inverse relationship was found between DSI score and Grade score.
- DSI effectively discriminated between patients with nonorganic voice disorders, vocal fold mass lesions, and vocal fold paresis/paralysis.
Conclusions:
- The Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI) is a valuable tool for objective dysphonia assessment.
- DSI demonstrates good sensitivity (0.72) and specificity (0.75) at a cutoff of 3.0 for differentiating patients from controls.
- The DSI provides a reliable, objective measure of voice disorder severity.