Validation of the Filipino Voice Handicap Index-10 (FVHI-10)

Rationale/Objective@#The Voice Handicap Index (VHI) is a selfassessment tool that evaluates the patient’s reaction and perception to a vocal disorder. This study aimed to establish, validate and assess the reliability of the Filipino translation of the Voice Handicap Index 10 (FVHI-10).@*Methods@#The VHI-10 was translated and adapted to the Filipino language and culture with the help of the Sentro ng Wikang Filipino- University of the Philippines Manila. A self-assessment of voice quality and FVHI-10 were performed by the patients and their GRBAS scale scoring was rated by a speech language pathologist. The Spearman’s correlation between the FVHI-10 and the self-assessment and GRBAS scale scores was obtained to test for validity. To evaluate the reliability of the FVHI-10, testing through determining internal consistency was conducted through the use of Chronbach α coefficient, inter-item correlation, item-total correlation and Cronbach α coefficient if tool item was deleted.@*Results@#Fifty five individuals participated in the study (29 males, 26 females, age range: 30-55 years) with the diagnosis of voice disorder based on complaints of hoarseness or dysphonia and laryngoscopic findings. Convergent validity was confirmed with moderate to strong correlation between the FVHI-10 and self-assessment (r=-.893, p<.05) and GRBAS scale scores (r=.427, p<.05). Reliability as measured through internal consistency was confirmed (Cronbach α=.874) (average ρ<.5) (corrected item-total correlation>0.3) (average interitem correlation=.15-.85). @*Conclusion@#The FVHI-10 was determined to be a valid and reliable instrument that can be utilized in the assessment of Filipino patients with voice disorders.

Measurement of the handicap of dysphonic patients using the filipino voice handicap index

Objective: 1) To describe patterns of Filipino Voice Handicap Index (VHI) scores in relation to the demographic data of dysphonic patients; 2) To describe patterns of Filipino VHI scores in relation to the different pathologies of dysphonia as determined by videostroboscopy. Methods: Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Tertiary Government Hospital. Population: Adult patients (?18 years old), proficient in Filipino. A group of 124 dysphonic patients seen at the Videostroboscopy Unit completed the Filipino VHI. Demographic data were collected. Videostroboscopy diagnoses were classified into six groups: normal, mass lesions, inflammatory, mucosal irregularities, functional and neurogenic. The T-test was used to determine differences in scores among the demographic parameters and the pathology groups. ANOVA one-way factor was used to determine difference of subscale scores within each pathology group, and to determine difference of pathology scores in each subscale. Differences were considered statistically significant if p40 years old. Females had significantly higher scores than males in the functional, physical and total subscales. Patients with lower educational status scored higher compared to college graduates. Voice professionals significantly scored higher than the non-voice professionals. Dysphonic patients significantly scored higher than normal volunteers. Among the pathological groups, neurogenic lesions had the highest scores. Physical subscale scores were significantly higher in all lesions except in functional lesions. Conclusion: The Filipino VHI is comparable to the other versions of the VHI, with patterns similar to other versions. It gives the clinician a measure of a dysphonic patient’s handicap, an is an invaluable tool in quantifying severity of dysphonia.