Reproducibility of the Dutch Version of the Voice Handicap Index

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the reproducibility of the Dutch translation of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) by performing a test-retest study. To determine the relationship between the test-retest differences and the VHI scores. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A group of 104 patients (56 male, 48 female) with voice complaints completed the VHI twice with a mean interval of 13 days. RESULTS: There were no differences in scores between male and female patients. There was a good correlation between the first and the second measurement (r=0.95). The difference between two VHI scores of any one patient and the total score were not related. We found that a 14-point difference in total score of the Dutch VHI for 1 patient at two points in time is significant. CONCLUSION: The Dutch version of the VHI has a good reproducibility. When used for clinical evaluation studies of patients with voice complaints, a difference of 14 points between two measurements is significant.