Prospective Determination of Normative Value of the Singing Voice Handicap Index-10 (SVHI-10)

Abstract

To prospectively establish a normative value for the validated Singing Voice Handicap Index-10 (SVHI-10) patient reported outcome measure (PROM). Prospective cross-sectional study. Adult singers without voice complaints were prospectively invited to complete a demographics questionnaire followed by the SVHI-10. Participants were excluded if they had sought medical care for voice changes within the last year or currently had throat problems. Statistical analysis was completed to establish a normative value and the distribution of demographics by singing experience, primary genre, and gender. One hundred forty-nine healthy participants from diverse backgrounds (including singing, financial, educational, and geographic location) successfully completed the SVHI-10. The mean (SD) score of this cohort was 9.13 (5.15). We defined a normative value as two standard deviations above the mean: 19.43 There was no difference in SVHI-10 score in different age groups. A normative value for the SVHI-10 questionnaire has been missing from the current literature and will be of great utility both in clinical practice and research. In previous research, singers have been shown to be more perceptive to quality change in their singing voices, which may be why the normative score is higher than one may expect. A SVHI-10 score ≥20 should be considered abnormal.