Protocol - Voice Impairments - Adults

Voice Handicap Index

Instructions: These are statements that many people have used to describe their voices and the effects of their voices on their lives. Check the response that indicates how frequently you have the same experience.

1. My voice makes it difficult for people to hear me.

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

2. I run out of air when I talk.

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

3. People have difficulty understanding me in a noisy room.

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

4. The sound of my voice varies throughout the day.

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

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

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

6. I use the phone less often than I would like.

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

7. Im tense when talking with others because of my voice.

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

8. I tend to avoid groups of people because of my voice.

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

9. People seem irritated with my voice.

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

10. People ask, "Whats wrong with your voice?"

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

11. I speak with friends, neighbors, or relatives less often because of my voice.

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

12. People ask me to repeat myself when speaking face-to-face.

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

13. My voice sounds creaky and dry.

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

14. I feel as though I have to strain to produce voice.

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

15. I find other people dont understand my voice problem.

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

16. My voice difficulties restrict my personal and social life.

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

17. The clarity of my voice is unpredictable.

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

18. I try to change my voice to sound different.

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

19. I feel left out of conversations because of my voice.

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

20. I use a great deal of effort to speak.

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

21. My voice is worse in the evening.

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

22. My voice problem causes me to lose income.

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

23. My voice problem upsets me.

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

24. I am less outgoing because of my voice problem.

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

25. My voice makes me feel handicapped.

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

26. My voice "gives out" on me in the middle of speaking.

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

27. I feel annoyed when people ask me to repeat.

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

28. I feel embarrassed when people ask me to repeat.

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

29. My voice makes me feel incompetent.

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

30. Im ashamed of my voice problem.

0[ ]Never

1[ ]Almost Never

2[ ]Sometimes

3[ ]Almost Always

4[ ]Always

Scoring Instructions

The score is the sum of the numerals in the multiple-choice responses.

Physical Subscale: questions 2, 4, 10, 13, 14, 17, 18, 20, 21, 26
Emotional Subscale: questions 7, 9, 15, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30
Functional Subscale: questions 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 11, 12, 16, 19, 22