Acoustic Voice Quality Index - AVQI for brazilian portuguese speakers: analysis of different speech material

摘要

Purpose This study aimed to verify the best speech material for the AVQI for Brazilian Portuguese language and identify the best validity results between the auditory perceptual judgment (APJ) and the AVQI score on different speech materials. Methods We recorded voice samples of 50 individuals (dysphonic and vocally healthy) of several continuous speech (cs) variants (i.e., months of the year, numbers 1 to 20, and CAPE-V sentences) and attached the vowel /a/ in each case. The recorded samples were edited to three different durations of cs variants plus vowel: D1-total speech material; D2-customized speech material without voiceless parts; D3-pre-defined cut-off point speech material. These samples were submitted to three voice experts who judged the overall voice quality; and the AVQI analysis. AVQI’s precision and concurrent validity were evaluated considering a Gmean threshold of G0.5 and G0.68. Results The concurrent validity of AVQI and APJ ranged from r = 0.482 to r = 0.634. Numbers presented higher values for all durations. For G0.5, the best sensitivity and area under the ROC curve was for CAPE-V sentences at D3 (57.8%; 72%). For G0.68, numbers 1 to 10 had the best diagnostic accuracy and numbers 1 to 20 had the best sensitivity. Conclusion Numbers from 1 to 10 had the best correlation results between APJ and AVQI. For G0.5, sentences had the best diagnostic accuracy; while for G0.68, numbers had the best diagnostic accuracy. Numbers are commonly used in the Brazilian clinic routine. According to the validity results and daily clinical practice in Brazil, we suggest the use of numbers as cs for concatenated voice samples of voice quality assessments.