Validation of the Portuguese Version of the Voice Handicap Index-10

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study is to validate the Voice Handicap Index 10, to be implemented on the Portuguese population.

Material and methods: Fourty-five subjects were included on the study with vocal complaints and 45 subjects with no vocal complaints, followed on Otorhinolaryngology external appointment at Centro Hospitalar Universitário of Porto. The Voice Handicap Index 30 (VHI-30) and The Voice Handicap Index 10 (VHI-10) questionnaires were applied to the subjects by phone call. Posteriorly, VHI-10 was again applied in the next two to seven days after the first call. These procedures helped validating VHI-10 according to its reproducibility, internal consistency and correlation between questionnaires.

Results: In the group with vocal complaints, we verified a significant statistical correlation and a strong linear correlation between VHI-30 and VHI-10 (r = 0.915; P< 0.001). The group without vocal complaints has shown a significant statistical correlation and a moderate linear correlation between VHI-30 and VHI-10 (r = 0.647; P< 0.001). Regarding VHI-10, It was detected a significant statistical difference between patients with and without vocal complaints.

Discussion: VHI-10 in Portuguese of Portugal was applied to a sample that included, not only subjects with different ages, but also subjects with and without vocal complaints. Among patients with vocal complaints, it was included subjects with different diagnosis (organic and functional pathology). Thus, the sample was representative, and VHI-10 was reliable and reproducible.

Conclusion: VHI-10 is a valid representation of VHI-30 that helps evaluate the impact of vocal complaints on life quality, with proven psychometric properties to be implemented on the Portuguese population.

Keywords: Dysphonia; Questionnaire; Validation; Voice; Voice Handicap Index-10.