title: Cross-cultural adaptation, validation, and cutoff values of the Brazilian version of the Voice Symptom Scale-VoiSS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study sought to determine the validity, reliability, and responsiveness of the Brazilian Portuguese Voice Symptom Scale (VoiSS) and also identify characteristics of efficacy and cutoff values that discriminate dysphonic from vocally healthy individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional, nonrandomized, prospective study with controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty hundred subjects (160 with dysphonia and 140 without dysphonia) completed the Brazilian version of the VoiSS as well as a vocal self-assessment scale using a five-point rating system (excellent, very good, good, fair, and poor).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Brazilian version of VoiSS, referred to as the Escala de Sintomas Vocais (ESV), was valid, reliable, and responsive. A score of 16 was determined to be highly sensitive (100%) and specific (100%) for individuals with dysphonia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Brazilian version of VoiSS or ESV demonstrated a high degree of validity, reliability, and responsiveness with regard to differentiating aberrant vocal function and was valuable as an instrument to quantify the response to treatment in patients with dysphonia. The cutoff value that discriminates individuals with dysphonia from vocally healthy subjects was 16.
authors.affiliation: Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Department, Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil; Centro de Estudos da Voz - CEV, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: felipemoreti@uol.com.br.
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moreti
authors.affiliation: Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Department, Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil; Centro de Estudos da Voz - CEV, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zambon
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudos da Voz - CEV, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gisele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Department, Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil; Centro de Estudos da Voz - CEV, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Behlau
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards; D014831:Voice / Q000502:physiology*; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Dysphonia; Quality of life; Questionnaires; Validation studies; Voice; Voice disorders