Voice Handicap Index (VHI) in rehabilitation medicine ["Voice Handicap Index" (VHI) in der stationären stimmrehabilitation]

Background. The focus of this study was to determine if the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) is a valid tool for evaluating an inpatient voice rehabilitation program. Patients and methods. A total of 39 German-speaking patients were asked to complete a German version of the VHI questionnaire at the beginning and 3 months after attending a voice rehabilitation program on an inpatient basis at the Bad Gögging voice center. The data collected were documented and assessed using Microsoft Excel and MATLAB. Results. A significant reduction of the VHI summary score was achieved by 10 of 39 patients. An increased number of voice therapy sessions before the program diminished (!) the VHI score 3 months after the program. Work disability because of the dysphonia before the beginning of the voice rehabilitation program showed no significant correlation with the VHI score. Conclusions. At present, the VHI cannot be regarded as a reliable measure to evaluate benefit derived from completing a voice rehabilitation program on an inpatient basis. Apparently, numerous prior treatment regimens constitute a negative prognostic criterion for rehabilitation success as measured subjectively by the VHI. © Springer Medizin Verlag 2005.