[Test-retest variability and internal consistency of the Acoustic Voice Quality Index].
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to determine the test-retest variability of the Acoustic Voice Quality Index (AVQI) and to investigate the weighting of the test's two components (sustained vowel and continuous speech) with regards to the final AVQI score.


METHODS
During this study, 43 test subjects with varying degrees of hoarseness were each assessed twice using the AVQI.


RESULTS
No statistically significant differences were found between the end results of the two AVQI repetitions (t = 1.205; p = 0.235). The test-retest procedure outcome value of 0.54 confirms a low level of AVQI score variability. The end result of the AVQI assessment is most strongly influenced by sustained phonation of the vowel /a/ (r(2) = 0.88.). Although sustained phonation has a significantly greater influence on AVQI score than continuous speech (z = - 3.34; p < 0.01), the latter component also makes a substantial contribution to the final result (r(2) = 0.55).


CONCLUSIONS
The results confirm a low level of test-retest variability within the AVQI. Combining the two speech elements showed a greater contribution of sustained vowel phonation to the final AVQI score.
Faculty of Health Care, HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Bolognalaan 101, 3584, Utrecht, Niederlande. ben.barsties@t-online.de
B
B
Barsties
Y
Y
Maryn
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006685:Hoarseness / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013068:Speech Production Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D014833:Voice Quality; D055815:Young Adult