Vocal Handicap Index (VHI)

How to complete this Questionnaire:

  • These are statements many people have used to describe their Voice and the effects of their Voice on their lives.
  • In the last 1 month, how did the following problems affect you?
  • Please select the response that indicates how frequently you experience the same symptoms
  • If you do not have a problem with your Voice, please select zero (0) in response to these statements.

0-4 Rating Scale
0 = Never
1 = Occasionally
2 = Some of the time
3 = Most of the time
4 = All of the time

My voice makes it difficult for people to hear me

I run out of air when I talk

People have difficulty understanding me in a noisy room

The sound of my voice varies throughout the day

My family has difficulty hearing me when I call throughout the house

I use the phone less often than I would like

I'm tense when talking with others because of my voice

I tend to avoid groups of people because of my voice

People seem irritated with my voice

People ask,"What's wrong with your voice?"

I speak with friends, neighbours or relatives less because of my voice

People ask me to repeat myself when speaking face to face

My voice sounds creaky and dry

I feel as though I have to strain to produce my voice

I find other people don't understand my voice problem

My voice difficulties restrict my personal and social life

The clarity of my voice is unpredictable

I try to change my voice to sound different

I feel left out of my conversation because of my voice

I use a great deal of effort to speak

My voice is worse in the evening

My voice problem causes me to lose income

My voice problem upsets me

I am less outgoing because of my voice problem

My voice makes me feel handicapped

My voice 'gives out on me' in the middle of speaking

I feel annoyed when people ask me to repeat myself

I am embarrassed when people ask me to repeat myself

My voice makes me feel incompetent

I'm ashamed of my voice problem

Wilson, J. A., et al. (2004). "The Voice Symptom Scale (VoiSS) and the Vocal Handicap Index (VHI): a comparison of structure and content." Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci 29(2): 169-174.

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