Validation of the Polish Version of Voice Handicap Index-10.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to adapt and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Polish version of the VHI-10. METHODS: We enrolled 183 subjects-118 patients with voice disorders and 65 without voice disorders. RESULTS: All items were correlated with each other and were strongly correlated with the total score (rho ≥ 0.70), the only exception being item five (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. CONCLUSION: 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.

Polish Translation and Validation of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI-30).

Traditional voice evaluations, including imaging techniques, auditory-perceptual ratings, and acoustic and aerodynamic analyses, fail to assess the global handicap that a patient experiences as a result of a voice disorder. The Voice Handicap Index (VHI) is currently one of the most widely used and psychometrically robust instruments for measuring voice disability. The aim of the study is to translate and validate a Polish version of the VHI. The original English-language version of VHI-30 was translated into Polish. We enrolled 188 subjects-123 patients (91 women and 32 men) with voice disorders and 65 controls (53 women and 12 men) without voice disorders. Results obtained by the patients were significantly higher than those obtained by the controls on the Emotional subscale (U = 519.0; p < 0.001), Functional (U = 829.0; p < 0.001), Physical (U = 331.0; p < 0.001), and the global score (U = 390.0; p < 0.001). There were statistically significant negative correlations between maximum phonation time and global score (rho = -0.31; p < 0.01) as well as all three subscales. Shimmer and Smoothed Amplitude Perturbation Quotient were correlated positively with the global score (rho = 0.22; p < 0.05; rho = 0.25; p < 0.01, respectively) and with all three subscales. There were also statistically significant correlations between VHI scores and auditory perceptual evaluation. In the patient group, there was excellent internal consistency (α = 0.97) and strong test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation = 0.94). The cut-off value equal to 17 points was estimated. The Polish VHI showed excellent internal consistency, good test-retest reproducibility, and clinical validity. It is a useful tool for evaluating the voice disability perceived by a patient.

Injection laryngoplasty as an effective treatment method for glottal insufficiency in aged patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to assess outcomes of injection laryngoplasty (IL) for treating glottal insufficiency in elderly patients with presbyphonia or unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP). METHODS: A single-center retrospective study was performed. The study group consisted of 34 patients with glottal insufficiency aged between 60 and 82 years who had been treated with injection laryngoplasty. Of them, 16 patients were diagnosed with presbyphonia and 18 with UVFP. RESULTS: After IL, glottal closure improved in both groups. The change was statistically significant in the patients with presbyphonia (marginal homogeneity test MH = 3.80; p < 0.001) and in the UVFP patients (MH = 4.04; p < 0.001). Voice quality improved after IL and 12 months after surgical intervention remained significantly better compared to before augmentation (MH tests were statistically significant at p < 0.05 for R, B, A, and S parameters). In the patients with UVFP, significant improvement was observed in 7 of 12 evaluated parameters (Jitt, RAP, PPQ, Shim, APQ, sAPQ, and NHR) but in the patients with presbyphonia only average fundamental frequency (F0) improved significantly. Comparison of the Voice Handicap Index outcomes before and 12 months after surgery showed improvement of subjectively assessed voice quality in both groups; however, the change was statistically significant only in the UVFP patients. CONCLUSIONS: Injection laryngoplasty is a safe and effective treatment method for glottal insufficiency in the elderly. This study shows a significant and clinically relevant improvement to at least12 months, especially in patients with UVFP.