ASSESSING PRE- AND POST-TREATMENT QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH DYSPHONIA USING THE VOICE HANDICAP INDEX (VHI)

Abstract

Background: Dysphonia—manifested as impaired vocal quality, pitch, loudness, or increased vocal effort—affects social participation, work productivity, and psychological well-being. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are central to outcome-based voice care. The Voice Handicap Index (VHI) and its abbreviated form (VHI‑10) quantify self‑perceived voice disability across functional, physical, and emotional domains and are validated in multiple languages, including Russian [1–3,11–12].

Objective: To characterize pre‑ and post‑treatment changes in self‑perceived voice handicap using the VHI among adults with benign laryngeal disease—vocal fold papillomatosis, cysts, and polyps—and to interpret these changes against guideline recommendations and published minimal important difference (MID) thresholds [3,6].

Overview of Methods: Consecutive adults completed VHI at baseline and approximately three months after surgery or disease‑directed therapy. We summarize the direction and magnitude of change and highlight the proportion who achieved or exceeded the 6‑point MID on the VHI‑10.

Overview of Results: Patients typically reported moderate‑to‑severe baseline handicap with substantial short‑term improvement after treatment, often reaching mild ranges on VHI scales. The majority achieved or exceeded a 6‑point VHI‑10 MID, consistent with contemporary evidence for phonomicrosurgery in benign lesions and for disease control in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) [4–6,8–10].

Conclusions: Routine use of VHI/VHI‑10 at baseline and early follow‑up, aligned with evidence‑based guidelines, offers a responsive, interpretable framework for patient‑centered, outcome‑driven dysphonia care [3].