A Comparative Study of the VHI-10 and the V-RQOL for Quality of Life Among Chinese Teachers With and Without Voice Disorders

Objectives. To investigate the differences and correlation between the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VIII 10) and the Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) in teachers in China with and without voice disorders. Study Design. This is a cross-sectional descriptive analytical study. Methods. The participants were 864 teachers (569 women, 295 men) whose vocal cords were examined using a flexible nasofibrolaryngoscope. Questionnaire results were obtained for both the VIII-10 and the V-RQOL. Results. Of the 864 participants, 409 teachers had no voice disorders and 455 teachers had voice disorders. The most common voice complaint was hoarseness (n = 298) and the most common throat complaint was globus pharyngis (n = 79) in teachers with voice disorders. Chronic laryngitis (n = 218) and polyps and nodules (n = 182) were the most frequent diagnoses in teachers with voice disorders. Significant differences were seen on the VHI-10 between teachers with and those without voice disorders (P < 0.05) and in function between female and male teachers with voice disorders (P < 0.05) and between those with different voice disorders (P < 0.05). Moderate to strong correlations were observed between VHI-10 total score and those for the three domains of the VHI-10 and the V-RQOL (P < 0.0001). Conclusions. There is a high prevalence of voice disorders in teachers. Teachers with voice disorders have poor voice related quality of life, with more impairment seen among female than male teachers. Different groups of voice disorders have different effects on voice-related quality of life, A moderate correlation was found between the results of the VIII 10 and the V-RQOL,