Diagnostic validity of Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) compared with perceptive-auditory and acoustic speech pathology evaluations of the voice.
BACKGROUND
The voice handicap index (VHI) questionnaire and its reduced version (VHI-10) have the aim of measuring voice problems from the subject's self-perception. No studies on the predictive value of VHI-10 have been conducted.


OBJECTIVE
To determine diagnostic validity indicators for VHI-10.


METHODS
Four hundred seventy-six elementary and high school teachers working in municipal public schools in Salvador, Bahia, were evaluated. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, proportion of correct classification, Youden index, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were calculated.


RESULTS
VHI-10 presented low rates for sensitivity (29%), proportion of correct classification (44%), positive predictive value (42%), and negative predictive value (33%). The validity indicators for VHI-10 were better in comparisons with perceptive-auditory analysis than with acoustic analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
Because of the low validity of VHI-10, its use in population-based studies is not recommended. This suggests that it has limitations as a diagnostic support instrument for clinical evaluations.
da Costa de Ceballos
Albanita Gomes
AG
Public Health Institute, Federal University of Bahia, Bahia, Brazil.
Carvalho
Fernando Martins
FM
de Araújo
Tânia Maria
TM
Farias Borges dos Reis
Eduardo José
EJ
D001307:Auditory Perception; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005178:Faculty; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D010699:Phonation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012574:Schools; D012649:Self Concept; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013066:Speech-Language Pathology / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D014833:Voice Quality