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Treatment Responsiveness of the Singing Voice Handicap Index
Author(s) -
Cohen Seth M.,
Witsell David L.,
Scearce Leda,
Vess Gina,
Banka Caroline
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1097/mlg.0b013e31817aec83
Subject(s) - singing , audiology , index (typography) , psychology , medicine , computer science , acoustics , world wide web , physics
Objectives/Hypothesis: To examine the responsiveness of the previously validated Singing Voice Handicap Index (SVHI) to treatment related changes in patients' singing voice. Study Design: 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 ≤ .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). Conclusion: The SVHI measures changes in patients' singing vocal health status resulting from treatment and the change correlates with that of other validated instruments.