Verständlichkeitsmessung mit MVP-Online: Einflussfaktoren und Validitätsaspekte

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Standardized intelligibility measurement is an indispensable component in the diagnostic assessment of dysarthria, since intelligibility is one of the most important parameters of dysarthric impairment. This article introduces an online application of the Munich Intelligibility Profile (MVP). The MVP is a computer-based, reliable, and valid method for the assessment of intelligibility in dysarthric speakers. MVP-Online allows for online patient examinations and dispenses clinicians from any further evaluation tasks. The patients’ speech samples are evaluated by a phonetics laboratory and the intelligibility report is provided via e-mail. The examinations reported here referred to major listener factors influencing the outcome of MVP-Online. METHODS: Three listener groups differing by age and by MVP-experience evaluated recordings from 12 dysarthric patients and 12 healthy controls. Furthermore, listener ratings were collected as external criteria to be compared with MVP scores. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The results revealed that listener age had an unspecific influence on MVP-scores of both normal and dysarthric speakers, while listener experience specifically influenced the results obtained for the dysarthric patients. This finding has to be considered in standard clinical applications of MVP-Online. Comparisons of MVP scores with intelligibility ratings revealed that standard methods for the assessment of intelligibility, such as MVP-Online, yield more valid results compared to simple intelligibility ratings.