Online Versus Classroom Training of Auditory-Perceptual Voice Evaluation With the GRBAS-Scale: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of two training modalities for auditory-perceptual evaluation of voice: online training and classroom training.

Materials And Methods: A 2-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted with 115 first-year speech and language pathology students randomly divided in two groups. Group 1 was given access to the online training platform Voice-TT for 2 weeks; group 2 received a 90-minute standard classroom training in auditory-perceptual evaluation with GRBAS without access to online training.

Construction of an Anchor and Training Sample Set for Auditory-Perceptual Voice Evaluation With the GRBAS-scale.

Objective: The aim of this study is to construct a representative and comprehensive set of reliable anchor and training voice samples for all parameters and grades of the GRBAS-scale, in order to develop a standardized online training tool for perceptual voice evaluation.

Methods: 140 voice samples varying from normal to severely dysphonic, consisting of the vowel /a/ and a Dutch standard text, were recorded. Samples were duplicated and added to a data folder in random order.

Assessment of radio(chemo)therapy-related dysphagia in head and neck cancer patients based on cough-related acoustic features: a prospective phase II national clinical trial (ACCOUGH-P/A trial).

Background: Radiation-associated dysphagia is defined as impaired swallowing efficiency/safety following (chemo)radiotherapy in head and neck cancer patients. In a dysphagia framework, impaired coughing may lead to lung aspiration and fatal lung infection. Although cough efficacy is a predictor of the risk of aspiration, cough investigation is minimal in patients with radiation-associated dysphagia.

Concurrent and Predictive Validity of the Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability in Belgian Acute Stroke Patients Based on a 1-Year Follow-Up Study.

Introduction: The Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA) is a standardized clinical swallowing examination, specifically developed as a diagnostic test for the presence of oropharyngeal dysphagia and aspiration in the early period after stroke onset. In the original validation study, cutoff scores of <178 and <170 points, respectively, for the identification of dysphagia and aspiration risk are reported. However, a literature search revealed that alternative cutoff scores for dysphagia and/or aspiration provide better diagnostic accuracy.

Prophylactic Swallowing Therapy During Head-and-Neck Cancer Radiotherapy: Effect of Service-Delivery Mode and Overall Adherence Level on Swallowing Function and Muscle Strength-the PRESTO Trial.

Prophylactic swallowing exercises (PSE) during head-and-neck cancer (HNC) (chemo)radiotherapy (CRT) have a positive effect on swallowing function and muscle strength. Adherence rates to PSE are, however, moderate to low, undermining these effects. PRESTO already showed that the service-delivery mode (SDM), the way the exercises are offered, can influence adherence.

Acoustic Analysis of Voluntary Coughs, Throat Clearings, and Induced Reflexive Coughs in a Healthy Population.

Cough efficacy is considered a reliable predictor of the aspiration risk in head and neck cancer patients with radiation-associated dysphagia. Currently, coughing is assessed perceptually or aerodynamically. The goal of our research is to develop methods of acoustic cough analysis.

Supportive care among head and neck cancer patients: An initial validation of the Dutch version of the Performance Status Scale for Head and Neck Cancer (D-PSS-HN).

Background: Acute and late toxicities in patients treated with (chemo)radiotherapy for head and neck cancer (HNC) is common and can negatively impact quality of life and performance. Performance status instruments measure the functional ability to perform daily life activities and are important tools in the oncologic population.

Aims: Since Dutch performance status scales for the HNC population are lacking, we conducted this study to translate the Performance Status Scale for Head and Neck Cancer Patients (PSS-HN) into Dutch (D-PSS-HN) and to validate this version.

Increasing Adherence to Prophylactic Swallowing Exercises During Head and Neck Radiotherapy: The Multicenter, Randomized Controlled PRESTO-Trial.

Background: Prophylactic swallowing exercises (PSE) during radiotherapy can significantly reduce dysphagia after radiotherapy in head and neck cancer (HNC). However, its positive effects are hampered by low adherence rates during the burdensome therapy period. Hence, the main goal of this multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to investigate the effect of 3 different service-delivery modes on actual patients' adherence.

Acoustic Identification of Sentence Accent in Speakers with Dysarthria: Cross-Population Validation and Severity Related Patterns.

Dysprosody is a hallmark of dysarthria, which can affect the intelligibility and naturalness of speech. This includes sentence accent, which helps to draw listeners' attention to important information in the message. Although some studies have investigated this feature, we currently lack properly validated automated procedures that can distinguish between subtle performance differences observed across speakers with dysarthria.

Automatic boost articulation therapy in adults with dysarthria: Acceptability, usability and user interaction.

Background: Imprecise articulation has a negative impact on speech intelligibility. Therefore, treatment of articulation is clinically relevant in patients with dysarthria. In order to be effective and according to the principles of motor learning, articulation therapy needs to be intensive, well organized, with adequate feedback and requires frequent practice.

Assessment of cough in head and neck cancer patients at risk for dysphagia-An overview.

Background: This literature review explores the terminology, the neurophysiology, and the assessment of cough in general, in the framework of dysphagia and regarding head and neck cancer patients at risk for dysphagia. In the dysphagic population, cough is currently assessed perceptually during a clinical swallowing evaluation or aerodynamically.

Recent Findings: Recent findings have shown intra and inter-rater disagreements regarding perceptual scoring of cough.

Effect of boost articulation therapy (BArT) on intelligibility in adults with dysarthria.

Background: The articulatory accuracy of patients with dysarthria is one of the most affected speech dimensions with a high impact on speech intelligibility. Behavioural treatments of articulation can either involve direct or indirect approaches. The latter have been thoroughly investigated and are generally appreciated for their almost immediate effects on articulation and intelligibility.

Bimodal Therapy for Chronic Subjective Tinnitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial of EMDR and TRT Versus CBT and TRT.

Introduction: To date, guidelines recommend the use of a stepped care approach to treat tinnitus. The current clinical management of tinnitus frequently consists of audiologic interventions and tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Due to the high heterogeneity of the tinnitus population and comorbidity of tinnitus with insomnia, anxiety, and depression, these interventions may not be sufficient for every patient.

Effect of tongue-strengthening exercises on tongue strength and swallowing-related parameters in chronic radiation-associated dysphagia.

Background: Radiation-associated dysphagia (RAD) is highly prevalent in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients, with insufficient tongue strength (TS) as a characteristic of this disabling complication. The effects of tongue-strengthening exercises (TSE) on TS, swallowing, and quality of life (QoL) have not been studied in this population.

Methods: A prospective phase 2 study using an 8 weeks during TSE protocol was carried out in 15 patients with chronic RAD.

Can a Digital Awareness Campaign Change Knowledge and Beliefs Regarding Cochlear Implants? A Study in Older Adults in 5 European Countries.

There are 466 million people living with a disabling hearing loss and the challenges of managing this public health crisis cannot be underestimated. Yet, adult utilization of cochlear implants is poor with less than 10% of suitable candidates receiving one. The aim of this study was to investigate the awareness levels regarding cochlear implants in older adults after a digital campaign to raise awareness of cochlear implantation in this population.

Tongue-Strengthening Exercises in Healthy Older Adults: Effect of Exercise Frequency - A Randomized Trial.

Introduction: Positive effects from tongue-strengthening exercises (TSE) are widely described, but dose-dependent studies concerning exercise frequency have not yet been reported. This study aimed to determine the training and detraining effects of TSE with exercise frequencies of respectively 3 and 5 times per week on maximum isometric anterior and posterior tongue pressures (MIPA and MIPP) and on anterior and posterior tongue strength during an effortful saliva swallow (PswalA and PswalP).

Method: Twenty healthy adults were randomly assigned to two exercise groups, training 3 (EX3, n = 10) or 5 (EX5, n = 10) times per week with the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument.

GALP Qualifier Scale: Initial Considerations to Classify a Voice Problem.

Objective: To propose a single qualifier scale for voice problems based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) that classifies a voice problem considering its multidimensionality.

Method: A multicultural database was analyzed (280 subjects). The analyzed information was: the perceptual judgment of the overall voice quality (G); the acoustic analysis (A) with the Acoustic Voice Quality Index; the laryngeal diagnosis (L) and the patient self-assessment (P) using the Voice Handicap Index.

Stages in the Development and Validation of a Belgian Dutch Outcome Tool for the Perceptual Evaluation of Speech in Patients With Cleft Palate.

Objective: To develop and validate a Belgian Dutch outcome tool for the perceptual evaluation of speech in patients with cleft palate.

Setting: Cleft palate team in a tertiary university hospital.

Methods: The tool was based on the Cleft Audit Protocol for Speech-Augmented (John et al.

Evolution of self-perceived swallowing function, tongue strength and swallow-related quality of life during radiotherapy in head and neck cancer patients.

Background: Radiation-associated-dysphagia is a serious side effect of radiotherapy (RT) for head and neck cancer (HNC).

Methods: Seventy-six patients had a weekly prospective follow-up from baseline until one week post-RT. Combined mixed model analysis (n = 43) determined the evolution of self-perceived swallowing function, isometric tongue strength (MIP), tongue strength (TS) during swallowing (Pswal), and quality of life (QoL) in these patients during RT.

Health-related quality of life in patients with cleft palate: Reproducibility, responsiveness and construct validity of the Dutch version of the VELO questionnaire.

Objectives: Recently, the Velopharyngeal Insufficiency (VPI) Effects on Life Outcomes (VELO) questionnaire, which evaluates the impact of speech and swallowing difficulties on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with VPI (Skirko et al., 2012), was translated to Dutch (Bruneel et al., 2017).

Vocal characteristics of 5-year-old children: proposed normative values based on a French-speaking population.

: Previous research proposed normative data on gender- and age-specific voice acoustics for adults. Such reference values are lacking for children, particularly under the age of 6. This study was intended (1) to collect reliable normative data for the acoustic parameters of 5-year-old children's voices, and (2) to investigate potential gender-specific differences.

The Influence of Age, Sex, Visual Feedback, Bulb Position, and the Order of Testing on Maximum Anterior and Posterior Tongue Strength in Healthy Belgian Children.

Tongue strength and its role in the pathophysiology of dysphagia in adults are well accepted and studied. An objective and reliable measurement of tongue strength in children necessitates equally good methodology, knowledge of influencing factors, and normative data. Only limited data on testing tongue strength in children are available thereby limiting its potential use.

Tongue-Strengthening Exercises in Healthy Older Adults: Does Exercise Load Matter? A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Tongue-strengthening exercises (TSE) are based on the principles of exercise and motor learning, including intensity. Intensity is manipulated by gradually adjusting the resistive load. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigates the effect of three different values resistive load during TSE in healthy older adults.