Treatment responsiveness of the Singing Voice Handicap Index.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the responsiveness of the previously validated Singing Voice Handicap Index (SVHI) to treatment related changes in patients' singing voice.


METHODS
Prospective.


METHODS
Thirty singing patients at a tertiary voice clinic prospectively completed the Voice Handicap Index and SVHI at their initial presentation, pretreatment, and posttreatment.


RESULTS
Patients had lower SVHI scores posttherapy compared with the initial SVHI scores (P <or= .001, paired t-test). The change in SVHI scores from initial to posttreatment evaluation was greater than the change from initial to pretreatment evaluation (P < .001, paired t-test). The Spearman correlation of the Voice Handicap Index difference with the SVHI difference before and after treatment was 0.71 (P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
The SVHI measures changes in patients' singing vocal health status resulting from treatment and the change correlates with that of other validated instruments.
Cohen
Seth M
SM
Duke Voice Center, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA. seth.cohen@duke.edu
Witsell
David L
DL
Scearce
Leda
L
Vess
Gina
G
Banka
Caroline
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009146:Music; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014833:Voice Quality