Protocol - Voice Impairments - Adults
Description
The Voice Handicap Index (VHI) is a 30-item self-administered questionnaire that asks individuals to describe their voice and the effects of their voice on their life. Three subscales cover the areas of functional, emotional, and physical aspects of voice disorders. Points from the questions can be combined to assign a total score, or they can be combined by subscale.
Specific Instructions
Availability
This protocol is freely available; permission not required for use.
Protocol
Voice Handicap Index
Instructions: These are statements that many people have used to describe their voices and the effects of their voices on their lives. Check the response that indicates how frequently you have the same experience.
1. My voice makes it difficult for people to hear me.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
2. I run out of air when I talk.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
3. People have difficulty understanding me in a noisy room.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
4. The sound of my voice varies throughout the day.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
5. My family has difficulty hearing me when I call them throughout the house.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
6. I use the phone less often than I would like.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
7. Im tense when talking with others because of my voice.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
8. I tend to avoid groups of people because of my voice.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
9. People seem irritated with my voice.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
10. People ask, "Whats wrong with your voice?"
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
11. I speak with friends, neighbors, or relatives less often because of my voice.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
12. People ask me to repeat myself when speaking face-to-face.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
13. My voice sounds creaky and dry.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
14. I feel as though I have to strain to produce voice.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
15. I find other people dont understand my voice problem.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
16. My voice difficulties restrict my personal and social life.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
17. The clarity of my voice is unpredictable.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
18. I try to change my voice to sound different.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
19. I feel left out of conversations because of my voice.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
20. I use a great deal of effort to speak.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
21. My voice is worse in the evening.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
22. My voice problem causes me to lose income.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
23. My voice problem upsets me.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
24. I am less outgoing because of my voice problem.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
25. My voice makes me feel handicapped.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
26. My voice "gives out" on me in the middle of speaking.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
27. I feel annoyed when people ask me to repeat.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
28. I feel embarrassed when people ask me to repeat.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
29. My voice makes me feel incompetent.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
30. Im ashamed of my voice problem.
0[ ]Never
1[ ]Almost Never
2[ ]Sometimes
3[ ]Almost Always
4[ ]Always
Scoring Instructions
The score is the sum of the numerals in the multiple-choice responses.
Physical Subscale: questions 2, 4, 10, 13, 14, 17, 18, 20, 21, 26
Emotional Subscale: questions 7, 9, 15, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30
Functional Subscale: questions 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 11, 12, 16, 19, 22
| Scale | Mild | Moderate | Severe |
| Functional | >10 | >12 | >18 |
| Physical | >15 | >18 | >22 |
| Emotional | >8 | >13 | >20 |
| Total | >33 | >44 | >61 |
Personnel and Training Required
NoneEquipment Needs
The respondent will need a copy of the questionnaire.Requirements
| Requirement Category | Required |
|---|---|
| Major equipment | No |
| Specialized training | No |
| Specialized requirements for biospecimen collection | No |
| Average time of greater than 15 minutes in an unaffected individual | No |
Mode of Administration
Self-administered questionnaire
Lifestage
Adult
Participants
Adults ages 18 and older
Selection Rationale
The Voice Handicap Index (VHI) was selected because it is validated, reliable, requires little time to administer, and is easy to score and interpret.
Language
Chinese, English
Standards
| Standard | Name | ID | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) | Voice impairments proto | 63004-6 | LOINC |
| Human Phenotype Ontology | Abnormality of the voice | HP:0001608 | HPO |
| caDSR Form | PhenX PX201301 - Voice Impairments | 6196132 | caDSR Form |
Derived Variables
None
Process and Review
Not applicable.
Protocol Name from Source
Voice Handicap Index (VHI), 1997
Source
Jacobson, B. H., Johnson, A., Grywalski, C., Silbergleit, A., Jacobson, G., Benninger, M. S., & Newman, C. W. (1997). The Voice Handicap Index (VHI): Development and validation. American Journal of Speech Language Pathology, 6, 66–70. Copyright 1997 by American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. All rights reserved.General References
None
Protocol ID
201301
Variables
Export Variables| Variable Name | Variable ID | Variable Description | dbGaP Mapping | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PX201301_Annoyed_When_Asked_To_Repeat | ||||
| PX201301270000 | I feel annoyed when people ask me to repeat. | N/A | ||
| PX201301_Difficulty_Understanding_Me_Noisy_Room | ||||
| PX201301030000 | People have difficulty understanding me in a more | N/A | ||
| PX201301_Difficult_For_People_Hear_Me | ||||
| PX201301010000 | My voice makes it difficult for people to hear me. | N/A | ||
| PX201301_Family_Difficulty_Hearing_Me | ||||
| PX201301050000 | My family has difficulty hearing me when I more | N/A | ||
| PX201301_Feel_Left_Out_Of_Conversations | ||||
| PX201301190000 | I feel left out of conversations because of more | N/A | ||
| PX201301_People_DoNot_Understand_Problem | ||||
| PX201301150000 | I find other people don't understand my more | N/A | ||
| PX201301_People_Irritated_With_My_Voice | ||||
| PX201301090000 | People seem irritated with my voice. | N/A | ||
| PX201301_Speak_Less_Often_To_Friends | ||||
| PX201301110000 | I speak with friends, neighbors, or more | N/A | ||
| PX201301_Tense_When_Talking | ||||
| PX201301070000 | I'm tense when talking with others because more | N/A | ||
| PX201301_Voice_Clarity_Unpredictable | ||||
| PX201301170000 | The clarity of my voice is unpredictable. | N/A | ||
| PX201301_Voice_Creaky_Dry | ||||
| PX201301130000 | My voice sounds creaky and dry. | N/A | ||
| PX201301_Voice_Makes_Me_Feel_Handicapped | ||||
| PX201301250000 | My voice makes me feel handicapped. | N/A | ||
| PX201301_Voice_Makes_Me_Feel_Incompetent | ||||
| PX201301290000 | My voice makes me feel incompetent. | N/A | ||
| PX201301_Voice_Upsets_Me | ||||
| PX201301230000 | My voice problem upsets me. | N/A | ||
| PX201301_Voice_Worse_Evening | ||||
| PX201301210000 | My voice is worse in the evening. | N/A | ||
Measure Name
Voice Impairments
Release Date
October 8, 2010
Definition
This measure is a questionnaire to assess the functional, emotional, and psychosocial consequences of voice disorders.
Purpose
This measure can be used to assess the functional, emotional, and psychosocial consequences of voice disorders and the impact of an individual's voice disorder on daily activities.
Keywords
Voice, voice function, voice disorders, voice difficulties, Voice Handicap Index, VHI, emotional, psychological, speech and hearing, Aging Voice Index, AVI
Measure Protocols
| Protocol ID | Protocol Name |
|---|---|
| 201301 | Voice Impairments - Adults |
| 201302 | Voice Impairments - Older Adults |