Validation of the Spanish version of the voice handicap index for vocal singing (SVHI)

• Published in: Acta otorrinolaringologica espanola Vol. 61; no. 4; p. 247
• Main Authors: García-López, Isabel, Núñez-Batalla, Faustino, Gavilán Bouzas, Javier, Górriz-Gil, Carmen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 01.07.2010
• Subjects: Adult; Disability Evaluation; Dysphonia - diagnosis; Female; Humans; Language; Male; Middle Aged; Music; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1988-3013
• DOI: 10.1016/j.otorri.2010.01.012

In the questionnaires that currently exist in Spanish to assess the impact on quality of life of voice pathology, there are no questions that refer specifically to the singing voice. We present the results of the validation of the Singing Voice Handicap Index (SVHI) in Spanish. The SVHI was translated into Spanish from the validated version in English. The questionnaire was completed by 29 dysphonic singers and 81 healthy singers. There was good test-retest reliability (r=0.63, p=0.000). Regarding the item-total correlation, it was found that all samples had high correlations on individual items. Significant correlations were found between the severity of the score of the voice self-rated by the singer and the total scores of the SVHI (r=0.52, p=0.000). There were significant differences between the group of singers with dysphonia and the control group in the SVHI scores (ANOVA, F=10.9, p <0.002). The Spanish version of the translated SVHI questionnaire is a validated tool with proper internal consistency and reliability. The average score of the SVHI singers in a healthy population is 20% of the maximum possible questionnaire score, well above the average score in a healthy population for the spoken voice with the 30-item specific VHI.