Exploratory Study: Hyoid Trajectory Measurements

Reliability

 Recent investigations have found that the University of Florida hyoid trajectory

program measurements are highly reliable. A recent study by Wheeler et al. (2006),

found both intra and inter-rater reliability to be high (Tables 3-8 & 3-9).


Table 3-8. Intra-rater reliability for trajectory measurements
Dependent Pearson r Alpha value
Variable coefficient
Average Angle .942 .000
Average Displ .823 .001
Max Angle .945 .000
Max Displacement .872 .000

Table 3-9. Inter-rater reliability for trajectory measurements
Dependent Pearson r Alpha value
Variable coefficient
Average Angle .975 .000
Average Displ .895 .003
Max Angle .966 .000
Max Displacement .793 .019


Statistical Analysis

 Due to the nature of this pilot work, (i.e., small n, no data norms) mainly

descriptive statistics (Table 3-10) were used in order to identify any possible preliminary

effects.

Table 3-10. Means and standard deviations of dependent measures as a function of bolus
 consistency.


Dependent Variables Mean St Dev Mean St Dev
Average Angle 4.64 1.67 6.19 3.50
Max Angle 10.95 3.50 15.17 4.85
Average Displacement 3.41 2.58 3.11 2.26
Max Displacement 11.53 3.92 13.60 3.52
Average Velocity 43.56 11.06 46.33 15.99
Max Velocity 154.00 45.99 161.20 47.28


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