Applicability of Voice Handicap Index to the evaluation of voice therapy effectiveness in teachers
Niebudek-Bogusz, E.; Kuzańska, A.; Błoch, P.; Domańska, M.; Woźnicka, E.; Politański, P.; Sliwińska-Kowalska, M.
Medycyna Pracy 58(6): 501-509
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 0465-5893 PMID: 18421932 Document Number: 612818
The aim of this study was to assess the applicability of Voice Handicap Index (VHI) to the evaluation of effectiveness of functional voice disorders treatment in teachers. The subjects were 45 female teachers with functional dysphonia who evaluated their voice problems according to the subjective VHI scale before and after phoniatric management. Group I (29 patients) were subjected to vocal training, whereas group II (16 patients) received only voice hygiene instructions. The results demonstrated that differences in the mean VHI score before and after phoniatric treatment were significantly higher in group 1 than in group II (p < 0.05). Moreover, the improvement observed in group I applied to each of VHI subscales: functional, emotional and physical, while in group II it applied only to physical subscale. This study confirmed that the VHI test can be a useful method for monitoring phoniatric management efficacy in teacher's dysphonia.