Validation of the Voice Handicap Index: 10 (VHI-10) to the Brazilian Portuguese.

PURPOSE To validate the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) into Brazilian Portuguese and to check its psychometric measures.

METHODS The validation was performed following the guidelines suggested by the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Medical Outcomes Trust. A hundred ten individuals participated, 60 with vocal complaint, 6 males and 54 females, with age ranging from 21 to 82 years; and 50 without vocal complaint, 6 males and 44 females, age ranging from 18 to 87 years. The procedures performed were a voice self-assessment and the VHI-10. For the self-assessment, the individuals evaluated their vocal quality by means of a five-point scale: excellent, very good, good, fair and poor. The VHI-10 was administered twice to 30 of the 60 individuals with vocal complaint to determine the test-retest reproducibility. For checking the sensitivity, the VHI-10 was administered to 21 patients that underwent voice rehabilitation.

RESULTS The validity was determined by comparing the total score with the self-assessment results. Individuals that classified their voice as poor had a total score of 28.2 (standard deviation=8). Internal consistence was determined with high values of coefficient (p<0.001). Results showed a high level of reproducibility (p=0.0114). Sensitivity was demonstrated with a significant difference between pre and post-rehabilitation results (p<0.005).

CONCLUSION The VHI-10 is an instrument validated into Brazilian Portuguese, with psychometric measures of validity, reliability and sensibility proven and can be applied to individuals with voice problems.