Development and validation of the Arabic pediatric voice handicap index.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Voice problems negatively affect how children are perceived both by adults and by their peers. Although voice disorders are common in the pediatric population, there is still a lack of information available to clinicians regarding evaluation and treatment of pediatric voice disorders. The purpose of the present study was to develop an Arabic version of pediatric VHI and to test its validity and reliability.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fifty children with voice disorders were included in the study. The Arabic version of PVHI was derived in the standard way for test translation. The translated version was then administrated to the parents or caregiver of children with voice disorders and parents of 75 children with no history or symptoms of voice problems. Participants' responses were statistically analyzed to assess the validity, and to compare the pathological group with the control group.

RESULTS: The results showed high internal consistency and reliability of the Arabic version of PVHI (Cronbach's α=0.93 and r=0.95, respectively), and high item-domain and domain-total correlation (r=0.86-0.97). There was a statistically significant difference between the control and the voice disordered groups (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION: The Arabic version of PVHI is considered to be a valid and reliable assessment tool used by the parents and caregivers of children with voice disorders to assess the severity of voice disorders in Arabic language speaking children.