Validation and Cultural Adaptation of the Arabic Version of the Aging Voice Index

Arwa A Alkhunaizi; Mohammed Almohizea; Manal Bukhari; Rafeef I Alhajress; Khalid H Malki; Tamer A Mesallam

doi:10.1016/j.jvoice.2022.02.004

Validation and Cultural Adaptation of the Arabic Version of the Aging Voice Index

J Voice. 2022 Apr 2:S0892-1997(22)00032-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2022.02.004. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Arwa A Alkhunaizi¹, Mohammed Almohizea², Manal Bukhari², Rafeef I Alhajress², Khalid H Malki³, Tamer A Mesallam³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, King Saud University Medical City, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; ENT section, Surgical Department, Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: Arwa.alkhunaizi@hotmail.com.
² Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, King Saud University Medical City, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
³ Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, King Saud University Medical City, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Research Chair of Voice, Communication, and Swallowing Disorders, Otolaryngology Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

PMID: 35382955
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2022.02.004

Abstract

Background: The aging voice index (AVI) is a 23-item self-administered, patient-reported outcome measure. It was developed in the English language to assess the impact of voice disorders on the elderly population.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop an Arabic version of the AVI (A-AVI), test its reliability and validity, and assess its psychometric aspects in Arabic-speaking elderly persons with voice disorders.

Study design/methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional study involving elderly patients aged ≥60 years. Eighty-two patients with voice disorders were included in the dysphonia group and 77 patients without voice disorders were included in the vocally healthy group. The translated A-AVI and Arabic voice handicap index 10 (A-VHI10) were distributed to the study groups. The A-AVI was tested for its reliability (test-retest reliability and internal consistency) and validity (content, construct, and concurrent with A-VHI10).

Results: The A-AVI showed excellent test-retest reliability and internal consistency (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.987 and Cronbach's alpha = 0.954, respectively). There was a significant difference in A-AVI scores between the elderly in the dysphonia and vocally healthy groups (P < 0.001). In addition, a significant correlation was demonstrated between A-AVI and A-VHI10 (r = 0.89). Unilateral vocal fold immobility and inflammatory laryngeal disorders were most frequently reported by the dysphonia group (28%).

Conclusions: A-AVI has excellent validity and reliability in Arab-speaking elderly patients with voice disorders. It can be considered in the assessment of the effect of voice disorders on the quality of life of the elderly.

Keywords: Aging; Arabic; Dysphonia; Elderly; Validity and reliability; Voice.