title: Validity and Reliability of Visual Analog Scaling for Assessment of Hypernasality and Audible Nasal Emission in Children With Repaired Cleft Palate.
abstract: To investigate the validity and reliability of multiple listener judgments of hypernasality and audible nasal emission, in children with repaired cleft palate, using visual analog scaling (VAS) and equal-appearing interval (EAI) scaling.
  
  
  
  Prospective comparative study of multiple listener ratings of hypernasality and audible nasal emission.
  
  
  
  Multisite institutional.
  
  
  
  Five trained and experienced speech-language pathologist listeners from the Americleft Speech Project.
  
  
  
  Average VAS and EAI ratings of hypernasality and audible nasal emission/turbulence for 12 video-recorded speech samples from the Americleft Speech Project. Intrarater and interrater reliability was computed, as well as linear and polynomial models of best fit.
  
  
  
  Intrarater and interrater reliability was acceptable for both rating methods; however, reliability was higher for VAS as compared to EAI ratings. When VAS ratings were plotted against EAI ratings, results revealed a stronger curvilinear relationship.
  
  
  
  The results of this study provide additional evidence that alternate rating methods such as VAS may offer improved validity and reliability over EAI ratings of speech. VAS should be considered a viable method for rating hypernasality and nasal emission in speech in children with repaired cleft palate.
authors.forename: Adriane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baylis
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: Tara L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Whitehill
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013067:Speech Perception; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D014681:Velopharyngeal Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology; D014741:Video Recording; D014833:Voice Quality
keywords: Americleft; cleft palate; hypernasality; nasal emission; perceptual ratings; psychological scaling; reliability; speech outcome; validity