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Objective: The aim of this study was to validate the acoustic voice quality index (AVQI) version 03.01 and the acoustic breathiness index (ABI) in the German language., Methods: Concatenated voice samples of continuous speech (cs) and sustained vowel (sv) [a:] from 175 subjects with dysphonia and 43 vocally healthy subjects were perceptually judged for overall voice quality and breathiness severity. First, to reach a higher level of ecological validity, the proportions of cs and sv were equalized regarding the time length. Second, concurrent validity and diagnostic accuracy were statistically verified using the Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient (r s ) and several estimates of the receiver operating characteristics, likelihood ratio, and Youden index., Results: A moderate reliability of overall voice quality and breathiness severity from three experts were found. It was found that 27 syllables as standardization of the cs part, which represents 3 seconds of voiced cs, allows the equalization of both speech tasks. A strong correlation was revealed between AVQI and overall voice quality (r s  = 0.86, P < 0.01), and ABI and perceived breathiness severity (r s  = 0.85, P < 0.01). Additionally, the best diagnostic outcome for AVQI and ABI was identified at a threshold of 1.85 (sensitivity of 72 % and specificity of 90 %) and 3.42 (sensitivity of 72 % and specificity of 95 %), respectively., Conclusion: AVQI and ABI showed in the German language valid and robust results to quantify abnormal voice qualities regarding overall voice quality and breathiness severity., (Copyright © 2018 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Since 2009, all newborns in Germany have been entitled to universal neonatal hearing screening (UNHS). UNHS with tracking of test results leads to earlier detection of hearing disorders. The Association of German Hearing Screening Centers (Verband Deutscher Hörscreening-Zentralen, VDHZ) was founded to promote nationwide tracking, validity and quality control of UNHS results., Objectives: A comparable data structure in the different screening centers, with uniform definitions of primary parameters is essential for the nationwide evaluation of UNHS results. To address the question of whether a data structure with comparable definitions already exists or still has to be created, the existing structures and primary parameter definitions in the hearing screening centers should be investigated and compared., Methods: A survey was conducted in all hearing screening centers to assess how data on the primary UNHS parameters defined in pediatric guidelines was gathered. In the case of discrepancies, uniform definitions were created. Finally, the practicability of these definitions was evaluated., Results: Due to differing definitions of primary parameters, some of the data were not comparable between the individual centers. Therefore, uniform definitions were created in a consensus process. In the centers, the screening method, the two-step first screening and the result of the first screening now correspond to these uniform definitions. Other parameters, e.g. the total number of newborns, still vary widely, rendering the comparison of screening rates almost impossible., Conclusion: Valid evaluation of UNHS not only requires nationwide establishment of hearing screening centers, but also unified data structures and parameter definitions.