• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.67-76
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to compare professional (Pro) and non-professional (Non-pro) voice users with voice disorders in self-reporting voice evaluation using Korean-Voice Handicap Index (K-VHI) and Korean-Voice Related Quality of Life (K-VRQOL). In addition, those were compared by voice quality and voice disorder type. 94 Pro and 106 Non-pro were asked to fill out the K-VHI and K-VRQOL, perceptually evaluated on GRBAS scales, and divided into three types of voice disorders (functional, organic and neurologic) by an experienced speech-language pathologist and an otolaryngologist. The results showed that the functional (F) and physical (P) scores of K-VHI in Pro group were significantly higher than those in Non-pro group. As the voice quality evaluated by G scale got worse, the scores of all aspects except emotional (E) of K-VHI and social-emotional (SE) of K-VRQOL were higher. All scores of K-VHI and K-VRQOL in neurologic voice disorders were significantly higher than those in functional and organic voice disorders. In conclusion, professional voice users are more sensitive to their functional and physical handicap resulted by their voice problems and that goes double for the patients with severe and neurologic voice disorders.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.115-121
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• 2014

This paper investigates the relationship between acoustic characteristics and voice handicap index for 29 males with esophageal speakers. Acoustic characteristics were measured by using a sustained vowel /a/ three times. The stable vocalization for 2 seconds was analyzed by MDVP program. Specifically, relationships between four VHI scores (total, functional, physical, and emotional) and three acoustic characteristics (jitter, shimmer, and NHR) were investigated using the Pearson correlation coefficient. As results, we found no relationship between NHR and VHI scores. However, both jitter and shimmer had statistically significant correlations with all four VHI scores. This research will contribute to establishing a baseline related to speech characteristics in voice rehabilitation with esophageal speakers. Further research could be done to examine the overall quality of life survey, which is widely used as a subjective measure about voice for patients with esophageal speakers.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.167-172
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between subjective and objective evaluation in speakers with voice disorders. Subjective evaluation indicates the self-reports of voice problems by dysphonic speakers. The relating protocol is the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) and the self-awareness index of voice problems (SAIVP-14). A total of 48 individuals with voice disorders replied to the questionnaire and participated in a voice assessment. Objective evaluations included the perceptual judgement of G grade in GRBAS, acoustic measurements (jitter, shimmer, NHR) by MDVP (CSL 4400), and aerodynamic measurements (MPT, MFR, psub) by PAS (Phonatory Aerodynamic System, KayPentax, USA). Pearson and Spearman correlations were used for the analysis. In the correlation with perceptual judgement (G grade) and VHI-Total, VHI-Physical, and SAIVP-14, there was a significant correlation, but the overall correlation was poor. NHR, jitter, and shimmer were significantly correlated with overall VHI and SAIVP-14. Specifically, the correlation with shimmer was stronger compared to the other measurements. In aerodynamic measures, MFR and MPT showed a significant correlation with VHI-Total, VHI-Emotional, and SAIVP-14, but their correlation was poor. The results of this study suggested that subjective evaluation of self voice problems is meaningfully correlated with objective evaluations, but more data in the multidimensional voice assessment should be collected and analyzed for the reliability and validity of the voice handicap questionnaire.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2008

Subjective voice evaluation is necessary and important to assess the voice disorders in addition to objective voice evaluation. Subjective voice evaluation is divided into examiner and examinee subjective voice assessment. The examiner assessment represents perceptual judgment to the patient's voice such as GRBAS scale, Buffalo voice profile, consensus auditory perceptual evaluation of voice (CAPE- V) and so on. The examinee assessment consists of indirect method including voice handicap index (VHI), voice outcome survey (VOS), voice symptom scale (VoiSS), voice related quality of life (V-ROQL) and direct method which is called patient's self-subjective voice rating. This review article describes a general rule, advantages and pitfalls about GRBAS scale, VHI and patient's self-subjective voice rating which are presently most representative voice assessment tools.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.34-39
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• 2015

Background and Objectives:The Voice Handicap Index (VHI) evaluates the patients perception of impact of voice disorder in term of functional, physical, emotional factors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the change of patient's subjective voice handicap index before and after laryngeal microsurgery for benign vocal cord lesions. Materials and Methods:We analyzed 55 patients who received laryngeal microsurgery for benign vocal cord disease from January 2011 to February 2013 retrospectively. There were 50 vocal nodules, 3 vocal polyps, 2 vocal cysts. VHI were analyzed before surgery and 3 months after surgery. Results:The VHI scores showed statistically significant reductions postoperatively in functional and emotional VHI (p=0.01 and p=0.034). Also, Emotional VHI score after microsurgery was higher in female than male [adjusted odd ratio (AOR)=0.292 ; 95% confidence interval, CI=0.098-0.869, p=0.01]. Conclusion:In other words, males experience significant more emotional effects that are improved after microscopic surgery.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.105-114
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• 2012

This paper will discuss the difference between self assessment of voice disorders and the hearer voice assessment of a comparative group of normal subjects. The study was conducted on 25 voice disorder subjects and 32 hearers of a comparative group of normal subjects. The results are as follows. Firstly, in K-VHI and VHI-H, the hearers of the comparative group of normal subjects perceived more serious voice disorders than the voice disorder group in all sub-domains. Likewise, in K-VQOL and VRQOL-H, the hearers of the comparative group of normal subjects perceived more serious voice disorders than the voice disorder group in all sub-domains. Secondly, the hearer voice assessment of the comparative group of normal subjects showed no difference in gender regarding the perception of the severity of voice disorder issues. Thirdly, the hearer voice assessment of the comparative group of normal subjects states that in the emotional aspects of VHI-H, professional voice users perceive more serious voice disorders than others. Accordingly, in VRQOL-H, there was no difference in use of the voice between professionals and others.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.53-61
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• 2013

Voice disorders are most common in female teachers due to work-related vocal demands; however, only a few studies tried to evaluate individual risk factors with work-related risk factors to diagnose voice disorders. This study evaluated sixty-seven female elementary teachers (36 with voice disorders and 31 without voice disorders) to compare their vocal misuse, overuse, and vocal hygiene behaviors. Total Voice Handicap Index scores and VHI subscale (P, E, F) scores were not significantly different between two groups (p>0.05) and there was no relationship between VHI and acoustic measures (p>0.05). Loud talking, talking in noisy situations, and excessive speaking were significantly more frequent in female teachers with voice disorders (p<0.05) and thereby these overuse and misuse behavioral patterns were identified as risk factors to develop voice disorders in female teachers. Also, hydration was the most common behavior for vocal hygiene when experiencing vocal fatigue; however, hydration with hot green tea or coffee and throat clearing were often misused for vocal hygiene. This study found that female teachers from both groups presented higher voice handicap regardless of voice disorders. This study suggests a multidimensional voice assessment protocol is required to reflect voice problems in teachers and a vocal education program may be important to improve vocal hygiene knowledge and behavioral changes in female teachers.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.49-56
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• 2016

The study examined that parents and teachers were aware of what extents behavioral characteristics were related to the children's voice problems. The voice samples of 89 children in the ages of 3 to 5 were collected and their voice quality were graded by G scale of GRBAS. The parents and teachers of the children were asked to complete the questionnaire composed of the pediatric Voice Handicap Index (pVHI) and the psycho- and voice behavioral characteristics of their children. The results are as follows. First, there were no significant differences in both pVHI and behavioral characteristics of their children by G scale. However, significant differences were shown in the behavioral characteristics between parents and teachers, but no difference in pVHI between them. In addition, there was a significant correlation between the psycho-behavioral characteristics and the voice behavioral characteristics in both parents and teachers. These results represent that parents and teachers are not aware of the presence of their children's voice problems and such voice problems are affected by behavioral characteristics associated with the use of voice.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.155-162
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the voice handicaps of the idiopathic Parkinson's Diseases (PD) and their voice-related quality of life. Methods : Voice handicap index-10 (VHI-10) and Voice related Quality of Life were completed by 17 idiopathic PD patients, and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) part I, II, III were assessed. The relations between VHI-10, VRQOL and UPDRS scores were analysed. Results : VHI-10 score of PD patients was $14.35{\pm}8.07$ and VRQOL total score of PD patients was $59.12{\pm}20.25$, social-emotional $59.93{\pm}20.50$, physical function $58.58{\pm}21.77$. There were significant relations between VHI-10, VRQOL score and UPDRS II (activities of daily living). Conclusions : These results suggest that voice impairments affect the daily living of PD patients and their quality of lives.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.142-145
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• 2008

Background and Object: The aim of this study is to evaluate the change of patient's subjective voice handicap index (VHI) and acoustic parameters before and after laryngeal microsurgery for benign vocal cord disease. Materials and Method: We analyzed 78 patients who received laryngeal microsurgery for benign vocal cord disease from January 2004 to February 2007 retrospectively. There were 28 vocal polyp, 40 vocal nodule, 5 intracordal cyst and 5 Reinke's edema. Jitter, shimmer, harmony to noise ratio (HNR) were analyzed before surgery and 2-3months after surgery using the Doctor's speech science program. The voice handicap index introduced by the Pittsburgh Voice Center was used to examine patient's subjective change of voice quality. Results: Acoustic parameters of jitter, shimmer and HNR were improved in patients with vocal polyp and vocal nodule after surgery. The acoustic parameters were not improved in patients with Reinke's edema, statistically. Only jitter was improved significantly in patients with intracordal cyst (p<0.05). The VHI was significantly improved after surgery. The change of jitter and shimmer was significantly correlated with the change of VHI after surgery. Conclusion: The acoustic parameters and VHI were significantly improved in patients with benign vocal disease after laryngeal microsurgery.