Lissone

Researchers are evaluating the use of automatic voice analysis combined with machine learning to develop a screening tool for oropharyngeal dysphagia in neurological patients. This condition, involving difficulty swallowing food or liquids, commonly affects patients with Parkinson's disease, stroke, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and can lead to serious complications such as malnutrition, dehydration, and pneumonia. The study addresses the current lack of rapid, effective, and non-invasive screening methods available for healthcare providers and patients outside of specialized clinical settings. Participants include individuals diagnosed with the neurological diseases mentioned above, both with and without dysphagia, as well as healthy volunteers. Each participant performs various vocal tasks during a single recording session, including sustained phonation, rapid syllable repetition, standardized sentence production, and free speech. Voice signals collected are then analyzed automatically to extract acoustic features, which serve as input data for machine learning algorithms aimed at classifying swallowing disorders. During the study visit, researchers collect clinical and medical history data to better characterize participants. The main outcome measure is the development of a classification algorithm to screen for swallowing disorders using the baseline voice data. This approach aims to provide a quick, objective screening tool that could assist healthcare personnel in identifying patients at risk for dysphagia, ultimately improving patient care and reducing hospital stays and management costs.

Researchers are developing and validating an Italian version of the Waddell Disability Index (WDI-I), a self-administered questionnaire used to assess disability related to chronic low back pain. Low back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide, and patient-reported outcome measures like the WDI-I are important tools for evaluating pain and functional limitations. This prospective observational study aims to ensure the WDI-I is reliable, valid, and culturally appropriate for Italian-speaking patients with chronic low back pain lasting at least three months. The study involves a standardized translation process including forward and backward translations by bilingual translators and review by expert clinicians, followed by pilot testing. After finalizing the Italian version, 115 adult patients will complete the WDI-I together with other established measures such as the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, the Italian Oswestry Disability Index, and the Italian Pain Catastrophizing Scale. The WDI-I will be administered again after 7 to 10 days to assess test-retest reliability. Participants will complete questionnaires at baseline and after 7-10 days, with data collected on disability, pain intensity, and pain-related thoughts. Outcomes measured include internal consistency, reliability, and construct validity of the WDI-I over approximately one year. Statistical analyses will evaluate how well the WDI-I measures disability and correlates with other pain and disability scales, providing a validated tool to support clinical assessment and rehabilitation planning in Italian patients with chronic low back pain.