Open AccessMeasurement of vocal handicap in patients with vocal nodules and functional dysphonias
Author(s) -
Wasim Elhendi Halawa,
Sofía Santos Pérez,
Caravaca García Antonio
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
egyptian journal of ear nose throat and allied sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.108
H-Index - 8
eISSN - 2090-3405
pISSN - 2090-0740
DOI - 10.1016/j.ejenta.2011.09.003
Subject(s) - quality of life (healthcare) , audiology , functional impairment , psychology , medicine , vocal folds , voice disorder , clinical psychology , larynx , surgery , psychotherapist
ObjectiveTo assess the degree of vocal handicap in patients with dysphonic disorders.Patients and methodsNinety-seven patients with a diagnosis of vocal nodules and 65 patients with a diagnosis of functional dysphonia completed a questionnaire which included the Vocal Handicap Index (VHI) and the Quality of Life Index (QLI) (a measure of voice-related quality of life).ResultsWe found a high degree of incapacity reflected by high scores on the VHI (mean score 61 in patients with vocal nodules, 56 in patients with functional dysphonia), on the individual subscales of the VHI (organic: 26, 25; functional: 22, 19; emotional: 13, 12), and on the QLI (13, 11).ConclusionVocal nodules and functional dysphonias often imply significant incapacity in terms of social functioning and work performance, with associated emotional impacts