Validity, reliability and reproducibility of the “comparative pre/post-treatment self-assessment of dysphonia”| ACTA Otorhinolaryngologica Italica

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Comparative Pre/Post-Treatment Self-Assessment of Dysphonia (CSAD) in assessing vocal quality and phonatory fatigue following treatment for dysphonia.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 51 patients who underwent phonosurgery for various vocal diseases. Patients completed the CSAD questionnaire post-treatment, alongside the Voice Handicap Index (VHI-10) administered before and after treatment. Correlation analyses were performed between CSAD scores and differences in pre- and post-treatment VHI-10 scores.

Results: The CSAD demonstrated simplicity and ease of interpretation, requiring no pre-treatment administration. Despite its streamlined nature, it exhibited a satisfactory level of correlation with post-treatment VHI-10 scores, indicating its effectiveness in evaluating treatment outcomes for dysphonia.

Conclusions: The CSAD emerges as a simple yet effective tool for self-assessing vocal quality and phonatory fatigue post-treatment in patients with dysphonia. Its straightforwardness and post-treatment administration make it a manageable and valuable addition to clinical practice, streamlining assessment processes without compromising accuracy.