Description

The Voice Handicap Index (VHI-30) is a self-assessment tool used to evaluate the impact of voice disorders on an individual’s quality of life. The VHI-30 consists of 30 questions that assess three domains: functional, physical, and emotional. This scale allows patients to assess how their vocal difficulties affect their daily life and psychological well-being.

Analysis and Use of Data

Analysis:The VHI-30 is used to quantify the impact of voice disorders in individuals who experience vocal difficulties such as dysphonia or other laryngeal pathologies. Patients are asked to respond to a series of questions related to the severity and duration of their vocal problems.

Use of Data:The tool is primarily used in clinical settings to assess patients before and after treatments or surgeries. The VHI-30 can also be used in research to study the impact of voice disorders and treatment outcomes.

Purpose

The purpose of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI-30) is to assess the subjective burden caused by voice disorders, providing clinicians with valuable information about the patient’s vocal function and quality of life. The tool helps identify the areas where vocal dysfunction has the greatest impact, aiding in tailoring treatment to the patient’s needs.

Scoring

The VHI-30 is scored using a Likert scale from 0 (never) to 4 (always), with total scores ranging from 0 to 120. Higher scores indicate a greater burden on quality of life due to voice disorders. The scale is divided into three subcategories:

Functional: Questions related to the impact of the voice on daily activities.

Physical: Questions related to the physical sensation of vocal difficulty.

Emotional: Questions related to the emotional consequences of the vocal disorder.

Bibliography

Jacobson, B. H., Johnson, A., Grywalski, C., Silbergleit, A., Jacobson, G., Benninger, M. S., & Newman, C. W. (1997). The Voice Handicap Index (VHI): Development and Validation. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 6(3), 66-70.

Nawka, T., Wiesmann, U., & Gonnermann, U. (2003). Validation of the German version of the Voice Handicap Index. HNO, 51(11), 921-930.

Rosen, C. A., & Murry, T. (2000). Voice Handicap Index in singers. Journal of Voice, 14(3), 370-377.

Wilson, J. A., Webb, A., & Carding, P. N. (2004). The Voice Handicap Index and its application in voice disorders. Clinical Otolaryngology, 29(4), 377-381.