Acoustic Voice Analysis in Patients with Penetration/Aspiration Via Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of penetration/aspiration (P/A) on voice acoustic parameters. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Twenty-seven patients were analyzed with the videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) and then divided into two groups based on the modified Penetration and Aspiration Scale results. Ten patients (5 males and 5 females) were included in the Non-P/A group, and 17 patients (12 males and 5 females) in the P/A group. Stroke was the major cause of swallowing disorders. Three sustained /a/ vowels recorded in pre- and post-VFSS were analyzed. Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare acoustic values before and after VFSS, and the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve with combination of significant parameters was also conducted. RESULTS: Among acoustic parameters, the length of analyzed sample (p=0.010), number of segments computed (p=0.018), total number detected pitch periods (p=0.017), and second formant (p=0.013) in pre- and post-VFSS were significantly different between Non-P/A and P/A groups. In the P/A group after VFSS, the means of these significant parameters decreased. According to ROC combined with four significant parameters, the probability of predicting P/A condition was 84% (p=0.005), the sensitivity was 80%, and the specificity was 80%. CONCLUSION: Voice acoustic analysis can reflect voice changes by penetration/aspiration and the combination of significant parameters can also detect swallowing disorders. Therefore, voice analysis can be a reliable screening tool for patients with swallowing disorders.