title: Auditory-perceptual evaluation of rough and breathy voices: correspondence between analogical visual and numerical scale.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the cut-off values of different degrees of vocal roughness and breathiness in an analogical visual scale, from a numerical scale.
  
  
  METHODS
  We selected 150 voices from both genders, with quality ranging from neutrality to intense deviations, and predominance of breathiness or roughness. The auditory-perceptual assessment through two scales: 100-mm analogical visual scales and 4-point numerical scale. Intra and interrater reliability of auditory-perceptual ratings was analyzed using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient. The cut-off values for graduation of roughness and breathiness voices were determinate using the analysis of the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve, which is based on the sensitivity, specificity and efficiency.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intra and interrater reliability of auditory-perceptual ratings was excellent on both scales. The cut-off values (mm) in the analogical visual scale, from the numeric scale, indicated a roughness distribution: 0-8.5 absence of the parameter; 8.5- 28.5 mild presence; 28.5- 59.5 moderate and 59.5- 100 intense. For breathiness, the distribution was: 0-8.5 absence of the parameter; 8.5-33.5 for mild presence; 33.5-52.5 moderate and 52.5-100 intense.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cut-off values found for the analogical visual scale conclude that the numerical scale zero, which represents the absence of parameter, corresponds to a small range of scores in the analogical visual scale. Furthermore, the third degree of the numerical scale corresponded to a wide range of the analogical visual scale.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação Interunidades em Bioengenharia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Paula Belini
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Baravieira
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação Interunidades em Bioengenharia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Alcione Ghedini
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Brasolotto
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação Interunidades em Bioengenharia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Arlindo Neto
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Montagnoli
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru, Universidade de São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Kelly Cristina Alves
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Silvério
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudos da Voz, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Rosiane
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudos da Voz, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Behlau
mesh_terms: D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D055154:Dysphonia / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006685:Hoarseness / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D012372:ROC Curve; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013068:Speech Production Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D014833:Voice Quality / Q000502:physiology*