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VoiSS: a patient-derived Voice Symptom Scale
Ian J Deary1, Janet A Wilson, Paul N Carding
1Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK. i.deary@ed.ac.uk
Journal of Psychosomatic Research
|May 3, 2003
Summary
A new Voice Symptom Scale (VoiSS) was developed and validated for patients with dysphonia. This patient-derived tool effectively assesses voice pathology and treatment response.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Speech-Language Pathology
- Health Outcomes Research
Background:
- Existing voice rating tools are often physician-derived or disease-specific.
- General quality-of-life measures may not adequately capture vocal symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a patient-derived inventory of voice symptoms.
- To create a sensitive assessment tool for baseline pathology in adult dysphonia.
- To evaluate the tool's ability to measure response to change in adult dysphonia clinics.
Main Methods:
- An initial open-ended questionnaire study compiled a prototype list of voice complaints.
- Principal components analysis and qualitative assessment were performed on 168 dysphonia subjects.
- A modified 44-item scale was administered to 180 new subjects for validation.
Main Results:
- Principal components analysis yielded the Voice Symptom Scale (VoiSS).
- The scale includes a 'general voice pathology' component with 43 items.
- Five oblique components assess communication problems, throat infections, psychosocial distress, voice sound/variability, and phlegm.
Conclusions:
- The Voice Symptom Scale (VoiSS) is a simple, patient-friendly tool for assessing voice symptoms.
- The VoiSS is sensitive to communication, physical, and emotional aspects of adult dysphonia.
- This validated scale aids in assessing baseline pathology and treatment response.
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