title: Intra- and inter-rater reliability for analysis of hyoid displacement measured with sonography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Anterior hyoid displacement is essential for efficient swallowing and is usually investigated with videofluoroscopy. Ultrasound offers a less expensive and noninvasive method of investigation. The present study investigated the viability of a novel method of quantifying hyoid displacement from sonograms using an anatomic reference point, through an evaluation of inter- and intra-rater reliability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three raters reviewed the sonographic video sweeps of five discrete swallows from each of five participants for inter-rater reliability. The primary investigator measured each swallow on two occasions for intra-rater reliability. Electronic calipers were used to measure distances from a "rest" frame prior to the swallow of interest and a "maximal displacement" frame, at which the hyoid bone was at maximal anterior displacement during each swallow.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Single-measure intraclass correlation coefficient was high for inter-rater agreement at 0.86 for rest measures and 0.86 for maximal displacement. Intra-rater reliability was even higher at 0.95 for rest and 0.98 for maximal displacement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary results suggest that by using a novel analysis approach involving an anatomic reference point, raters can achieve high agreement on measurement of position of hyoid at maximal displacement relative to rest.
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication Disorders, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Phoebe R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Macrae
authors.forename: Sebastian H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Doeltgen
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Maggie-Lee
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Huckabee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006928:Hyoid Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014463:Ultrasonography