Multiparameter Voice Assessment in Dysphonics: Correlation Between Objective and Perceptual Parameters.

BACKGROUND: Perceptual assessment and objective measures of voice provide a quantifiable tool for determining the degree of glottal closure, thus helping to distinguish dysphonic voices from normal voices. The correlation between the perceptual and objective parameters of voice in dysphonic can enable the voice pathologist to be more effective in differentiating the normal voices from dysphonic voices. However, only a few studies have investigated the correlation between these measures. OBJECTIVE: To document the differences in the perceptual and objective parameters of voice in participants with dysphonia and normal controls and to investigate the correlation between the perceptual and objective parameters of voice among participants with dysphonia. STUDY DESIGN: This investigation deployed standard group comparison and a retrospective study. METHODS: Two groups of participants were included in the study. Participants in group 1 were diagnosed as having a voice disorder secondary to organic pathologies and group 2 participants had a clinically normal voice. Phonation samples of all the participants were collected and perceptual analysis was carried out using the GRBAS rating scale. As part of the objective measures, acoustic and cepstral measures were extracted from the phonation samples. RESULTS: The analysis of the results revealed significant differences in perceptual ratings between the normal (control) and dysphonic groups. The mean values of all the objective measures of voice presented significant differences between participants of both groups. The perceptual ratings of grade, breathiness, and roughness showed better correlations with the cepstral measures than with the time-based acoustic measures. CONCLUSIONS: Further foraging research on the correlation between perceptual and objective measures of voice in various degrees of dysphonia will improve reliability while discriminating and quantifying hoarse, harsh and breathy voices from modal voices.

A Clinical Evaluation of Difference in Shades among Maxillary Central Incisor, Canine, and First Molar in a Young Age-group Using Digital Spectrophotometer: An In Vivo Study.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the most common shades of maxillary central incisor, canine and first molar and to confirm the shade difference between maxillary central incisor and canine in a young population of 18-25 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The shade of the maxillary central incisor, canine, and first molar of 100 study participants in a young population between 18 and 25 years were measured by digital spectrophotometer (VITA Easyshade). The shade of each tooth was assessed thrice with a digital spectrophotometer at the center of the tooth. Statistical analysis was performed; Chi-squared test was applied to assess the difference in shades. RESULTS: For the age-group of 18-25 years, the most common shade of maxillary central incisor is A1 and for canine and first molar the most common shade is B3. A highly statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) was observed between teeth, suggesting a definitive shade difference between teeth. CONCLUSION: A definitive shade difference exists between the maxillary central incisor and the canine, with the canine being darker in shade than the central incisor. This result can be implied clinically while restoring maxillary anterior teeth to yield a better esthetic outcome. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study reveals that there is a definitive shade difference between the Anterior teeth which should be considered while smile designing to replicate the natural appearance in a patient. Using a digital spectrometer makes the process of shade selection objective thereby eliminating any subjective variations.