[The smokers voice self assessment based on Voice Handicap Index (VHI)]. / Samoocena glosu u palaczy w oparciu o Wskaznik Niesprawnosci Glosu (VHI).

Complex voice assessment due to European Laryngeal Society proposals (2000) contains voice self estimation based on the Polish version of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI). This study focuses on the relation between voice handicap and smoking in dysphonic patients, who are using voice professionally. Thirty outpatient (25 female and 5 male, aged 40 to 55 years) voice department attendees suffering from professional dysphonia took part in this study. All patients after phoniatric examination completed the Polish version of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI). The questions concern functional, emotional and physical complains due to dysphonia. Most of smokers did not complain of dysphonia related problems comparing to non smokers. Even the scores of functional and emotional scales of VHI in smokers shown better results (less handicap) than in nonsmokers. Smoking does not affect patients handicap due to dysphonia measured in the Voice Handicap Index.

[Subjective assessment of voice functions among teachers taking part in the rehabilitation program]. / Subiektywna ocena czynnosci glosowej u nauczycieli uczestniczacych w programie rehabilitacyjnym.

INTRODUCTION: In daily phoniatric practice, apart from laryngoscopy, another simple and useful method of examining the voice organ is perceptual voice assessment based on the GRBAS scale. An extension to this examination can be the Voice Handicap Index test (VHI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 79 female teachers taking part in a 7-week-long rehabilitation course on voice emission techniques. Before and after the course the participants were subject to phoniatric examination including laryngovideostroboscopy, GRBAS scale assessment and determining the voice handicap index (VHI). RESULTS: After the course, a substantial improvement has been observed in voice emission, perceptual assessment and the VHI test. It has been observed that there is a statistically significant correlation between GRBAS and VHI results and mean phonation time (MPT) measured before and after the course. CONCLUSIONS: The VHI test should be included in complex analysis of the effects of intensive rehabilitation.

[The teachers health damage and pension related to occupational voice disease]. / Uszczerbek na zdrowiu i renta z tytulu choroby zawodowej narzadu glosu u nauczycieli.

The current regulations allow in special cases for the acknowledgement of the occupational disease among teachers who suffer from voice disorders. The physician who acts as the adjudicator in ZUS (National Insurance System) usually consults a phoniatrician and determines the percent of the permanent or long-term health damage, which can vary between 10-40%. The aim of the paper was to analyze the evidence which is taken into consideration while determining the percent of health damage and granting the occupational disease pension. The authors present proposition in detail the rules which govern the process of health damage calculation due to advancement of voice disorders, which can be very useful to adjudicating physicians in government and commercial insurance companies.

[Complex voice assessment--Polish version of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI)]. / W sprawie kompleksowej oceny glosu--wlasna modyfikacja testu samooceny niesprawnosci glosu (Voice Handicap Index).

The aim of this work was to present own modification of Jacobson's The Voice Handicap Index, the self-estimation scale of the voice as a one part of the complex voice evaluation. The VHI contains three groups of questions of physical, emotional and functional subscales, which specify complaints during phonation scored in 4 points (0-4). The presented our own modification of the VHI may be useful in everyday clinical practice.

[Assessment of rehabilitation of teachers' voice disorders]. / Ocena skutecznosci rehabilitacji zaburzen glosu u nauczycieli czynnych zawodowo.

Results of treatment of teacher's voice disorders were presented. Patients except pharmacological treatment and physiotherapy realised the course of voice emission exercises under speech therapist supervision. Ninety teachers were examined before and after treatment. Laryngological, phoniatric and laryngostroboscopic studies were carried out. In most patients phoniatric assessment revealed elongation of phonation time, changing of breathing route from cleidocostal to phrenocostal and voice creation without neck muscle tension after completing of treatment. 6 weeks lasting period of exercises was determined to be sufficient in most patients to learn correct breathing and phonation but to establish normal voice emission patient strong motivation, discipline and regularity during several months lasting exercises is needed.