[On the auditory evaluation of voice quality].
BACKGROUND
For routine clinical purposes, dysphonic voices are assessed perceptually using the GRBAS scale or analogues. For clinical application, the crucial question is the interrater reliability (IRR) of the auditory perceptual assessment of voice quality. Therefore, the IRR of the four point RBH (roughness, breathiness, hoarseness vs overall grade) scale was studied. Other parameters, e.g. validity and intrarater reliability were not considered.


METHODS
A total of 78 patients read a standard text "Der Nordwind und die Sonne". These samples were evaluated by 19 speech and voice therapy students according to the degree of roughness, breathiness and hoarseness. Data were subjected to reliability analysis.


RESULTS
Our data indicate a high IRR with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.94. No single rating of the 19 raters could be omitted without decreasing the IRR.


CONCLUSIONS
The data indicate that the perceptual assessment of hoarseness for running speech is highly reliable. The application of the RBH scale is suitable for clinical purposes. It should be considered as an outcome measure.
Ptok
M
M
Klinik und Poliklinik für Phoniatrie und Pädaudiologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover. ptok.martin@mh-hannover.de
Schwemmle
C
C
Iven
C
C
Jessen
M
M
Nawka
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006685:Hoarseness / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D013018:Sound Spectrography; D013067:Speech Perception; D014827:Vocal Cords; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D014833:Voice Quality