title: Dysphonia risk screening protocol.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To propose and test the applicability of a dysphonia risk screening protocol with score calculation in individuals with and without dysphonia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive cross-sectional study included 365 individuals (41 children, 142 adult women, 91 adult men and 91 seniors) divided into a dysphonic group and a non-dysphonic group. The protocol consisted of 18 questions and a score was calculated using a 10-cm visual analog scale. The measured value on the visual analog scale was added to the overall score, along with other partial scores. Speech samples allowed for analysis/assessment of the overall degree of vocal deviation and initial definition of the respective groups and after six months, the separation of the groups was confirmed using an acoustic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean total scores were different between the groups in all samples. Values ranged between 37.0 and 57.85 in the dysphonic group and between 12.95 and 19.28 in the non-dysphonic group, with overall means of 46.09 and 15.55, respectively. High sensitivity and specificity were demonstrated when discriminating between the groups with the following cut-off points: 22.50 (children), 29.25 (adult women), 22.75 (adult men), and 27.10 (seniors).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The protocol demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in differentiating groups of individuals with and without dysphonia in different sample groups and is thus an effective instrument for use in voice clinics.
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy, Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences, and Occupational Therapy, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nemr
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy, Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences, and Occupational Therapy, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simões-Zenari
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy, Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences, and Occupational Therapy, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: João Marcos da Trindade
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy, Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences, and Occupational Therapy, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Karen Elena
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Lobrigate
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy, Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences, and Occupational Therapy, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flavia Alves
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Bagatini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055154:Dysphonia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013060:Speech / Q000145:classification*; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D014833:Voice Quality; D055815:Young Adult