Evaluation of Validity of Voice Handicap Index among Indian Population

Introduction: The field of voice disorders has seen numerous advances in diagnostic and therapeutic modalities in the recent past. Unfortunately, none of these assessments reflects the “true” suffering of the patients or the level of handicap that a patient is suffering from as a result of the voice disorder. Aims and objectives: (1) To compare Voice Handicap Index (VHI) of normal person with VHI of patient with change in voice. (2) To compare VHI of different conditions of change in voice. Materials and methods: The study is a prospective cohort study with 100 subjects enrolled in the cases or the dysphonic group and 100 patients enrolled as controls. Both the study groups were then asked the VHI questionnaire. The VHI consists of questions on how the voice change has affected the patient’s daily routine life and how the functional, physical, and emotional aspect of voice is impaired is checked. Results: Among gender analysis, females had high VHI scores along with VHI subscales in both dysphonics and control group. Among the vocal cord lesions, the VHI scores and subscores were compared. The mean VHI score was maximum in patients with Reinke’s edema, then in case of vocal cord polyp, followed by vocal cord palsy, vocal cord cyst, vocal cord nodules, vocal sulcus, and least was in cases of vocal cord varix. Conclusion: The VHI questionnaire is a brief, relevant, and valid self-rating questionnaire to add to the routinely used clinicians’ assessment battery to contribute to the complex decisionmaking process (diagnosis, therapy, counseling) and outcome.