Voice Handicap Index

The Voice Handicap Index (VHI) measures the influence of voice problems on a patient's quality of life.

Gender and profession did not have a significant influence on the total VHI score. There was a weak tendency for VHI to decrease with age. The VHI is a useful instrument for quantifying the biopsychosocial impact of a voice disorder and is able to monitor changes in self-perception of voice handicap after treatment 1).

Studies directly comparing speech outcomes for different DBS targets are lacking. The current findings provide new insights concerning voice outcomes following DBS by adding to the limited literature directly comparing speech outcomes in multiple DBS targets 2)

1)
Maertens K, de Jong FI. The voice handicap index as a tool for assessment of the biopsychosocial impact of voice problems. B-ENT. 2007;3(2):61-6. Erratum in: B-ENT. 2007;3(3):7 p preceding 113. PMID: 17685046.
2)
Kopf LM, Rohl AHG, Nagao T, Bryant KNT, Johari K, Tjaden K, Greenlee JDW. Voice handicap Index in Parkinson's patients: Subthalamic versus globus pallidus deep brain stimulation. J Clin Neurosci. 2022 Feb 9;98:83-88. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2022.01.029. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35151061.