Reliability of the multi-dimensional voice program for the analysis of voice samples of subjects with dysarthria

Computer-based analysis systems are increasingly available for the clinical assessment of speech and voice functions. These systems have the potential to provide immediate quantitative information to assist clinical assessmen t and treatment. The Multi-Dimensional Voice Program (MDVP) is a computer p rogram that can calculate as many as 33 acoustic parameters from a voice sa mple. The MDVP appears to have potential for rapid quantitative assessments of voice in both research and clinical applications. This report evaluates the robustness and reliability of MDVP for vocal analyses of 32 individual s with dysarthria of various etiologies. It is concluded that the reliabili ty is generally very good and that MDVP has potential as a tool for the sem i-automatic analysis of voice samples in dysarthria. Some parameters appear to hold particular value in the description of voice qualities in these sp eech disorders.