Anick Lamarche 1 , Ingrid Verduyckt 2,3 , Joakim Westerlund 4 , Sten Ternström 1

1 KTH, CSC, Speech Music and Hearing, Stockholm

2 Université catholique de Louvain, Centre d'Audiophonologie Saint-Luc, Bruxelles

3 Université catholique de Louvain, Cliniques universitaires de Mont-Godinne, Yvoir

4 Stockholm University, Department of Psychology, Stockholm

Objective: The recent Belgian adaptation for singers of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) was translated and readapted in Swedish. This study’s aim was to evaluate the validity and reliability of this Swedish version. Method: In a parallel group design, 96 healthy singers and 30 singer-patients with various diagnoses completed a Swedish version of the singer adapted VHI. An evaluation of the Swedish voice health status instrument was carried out. In average, delays between test-retest ranged from 14 to 16 days. Validity and reliability as well as the internal coherence and group differences were assessed. Results: The singer-patient group scored significantly higher than the control group. Reliability was confirmed by high Cronbach’s alpha (>.78) for test-retest scores as well as each subscales. In particular, test-retest stability in both groups was confirmed by high values for Cronbach’s alpha (>.8). For both the control and patient groups, test and retest scores compared closely to previous reports with respect to overall scores. Retest results were slightly lower than initial test scores. Conclusions: The Swedish translation of the adapted VHI for singers (RHI-s) is valid and reliable and shows sensitivity to the singer's concerns. It can be considered a useful tool in the clinical assessment of Swedish healthy or pathological singers.

 

Keywords: Voice Handicap Index, singers, validity, reliability, Swedish, voice disorders, singing levels, singing genre, self-perception

 

John Rubin 1 , Reza Nouraei 1 , Shaji Mansuri 1 , Prem Randhawa 1

1 Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital, ENT, London

This pilot study investigates VHI findings in a general allergy clinic

Investigative parameters include skin prick tests for common environmental allergens, the VHI questionnaire

Findings: 1. Increased allergy load overall correlated with the functional aspects of the VHI test; 2. Six of the 30 questions were statistically correlated with increased allergy load.

This brief pilot study raises the possibility that apects of the VHI test can be used to test for patients with allergic laryngitis .

Tom Karlsen 1,2 , Hans-Jørgen Aarstad 2 , Jan Olofsson 2 , John-Helge Heimdal 2

1 Statped Vest, Speech and Language Department, Bergen

2 Haukeland University Hospital, Depts. of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology, Bergen

Background: Voice-related disease may influence the daily life ability to communicate and thereby the quality of life of the individual. The clinician should be able to determine how much the voice affects the daily life of an individual. The Voice Handicap Index (VHI) questionnaire is one of the most widely recognized instruments used to acquire this information from individuals. The VHI has been translated to Norwegian (N), and short form with 30 questions has been developed.

Aims: In this study we wanted to examine the psychometric properties of the VHI-30 Norwegian Version.

Subjects/Methods: Ninety-six out-clinic patients were consecutively included in the study based on presence of permanent voice problems. All participating patients were asked to answer the VHI-30(N) questionnaire, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of life Questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ C30/H&N35), the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) and to indicate on a VAS line their degree of voice related problem. In order to establish a diagnosis, an Otolaryngologist examined all patients with stroboscopic light laryngoscopy and a sample of the voice was recorded in each case.

Results: Seventy-three patients finished the questionnaires. The VHI-30(N) sum scale showed a Cronbach's alpha of 0.94. Factor analyses suggested that answers to 9 VHI questions from the VHI-30(N) questionnaire contained most of the relevant clinical information. This scale was termed VHI-9(N). This scale could also be divided into 3 sub-scales. These VHI-9(N) scales correlated to the EORTC-QLQ H&35 Speech scale and the voice handicap VAS scale at least at the same level as the VHI-30(N) sum scale. Furthermore, the VHI-9(N) scale discriminated better between serious and less serious laryngological disease than the VHI-30(N) questionnaire. Adjustment by EPI indexes as well as age and gender of the individual did not change these results.

Conclusion: The VHI-9(N) performed psychometrically at least at the level of VHI-30(N). It should therefore be considered to standardize the use of a shorter form of VHI than currently often used.

Anne Bingen-Jakobsen 1 , Inge Ernst Koelle 2 , Solveig Gunvor Pedersen 1 , Niels Reinholt Petersen 3

1 CSU, Kommunikationsafdelingen, Roskilde

2 Hospital, ENT, KOEGE

3 University, Department of Audiologopaedics, Copenhagen

The aim of the work reported in the paper was to develop a national, standardized voice assessment protocol. The prerequisite for a protocol of this kind be used by speech and language therapists (SLT's) universally is that its contents and form can be accepted by the potential users. Otherwise there is a risk of local or even individual protocols being used. A national standardized protocol will help to ensure a uniform treatment of voice clients all over the country.

In order to achieve this goal a working group was established, consisting of 9 experienced SLT's from different parts of the country and a staff member of the Department of Audiologopedics, Copenhagen University. The group collected what was available of local assessment protocols. On this basis and on the basis of discussions at a seminar with 60 SLTs taking part, a ‘beta-version' of the protocol was developed. This version was submitted to a field trial in which 13 SLT's each applied the protocol to 4 voice clients and filled in a questionaire on the content and form of the protocol and their experience using it clinically. On the basis of the results of the field trial a final voice assessment protocol was developed and released together with a manual in June 2007 (free to download).

During the spring of 2008 a survey was carried out among speech and language therapists working mainly with voice problems. The aim of the survey was to assess the frequency of use of the protocol and to obtain information on advantages and disadvantages of the protocol in the daily clinical work. The results will be presented in detail in the paper.

Key words: dysphonic patients, voice assessment protocol, national standardization