Validation of the Polish Version of Voice Handicap Index-10

Abstract

The aim of this study was to adapt and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Polish version of the VHI-10. We enrolled 183 subjects-118 patients with voice disorders and 65 without voice disorders. All items were correlated with each other and were strongly correlated with the total score (rho ≥ 0.70), the only exception being itemfive (rho=0.56). Internal consistency was very high, with Cronbach's alpha=0.92. There was a statistically significant difference between patients with voice disorders and healthy controls in terms of VHI-10 global score (U=251.0; P < 0.001). There was a statistically significant negative correlation between mean phonation time (MPT) and VHI-10 (rho=-0.30; P < 0.01). Only the amplitude perturbation quotient (APQ) was correlated positively with the global score (rho=0.22; P=0.020). There were statistically significant and positive correlations between VHI-10 scores and GRBAS evaluation. Correlations between global scores of VHI-30 and VHI-10, and between VHI-30 subscales and the corresponding items from VHI-10, were very strong (respectively 0.97 and 0.89-0.94). In the patient group, there was high test-retest reproducibility (intraclass correlation=0.91). A cut-off value of 8.5 points was estimated. The Polish version of VHI-10 showed excellent internal consistency, good test-retest reproducibility, and had clinical validity. It is a useful brief tool for self-reported evaluation and reliable assessment of patients with voice disorders.