[Validation of the German version of the Voice Handicap Index]

The voice handicap index (VHI) was developed in the United States for subjective evaluation of a voice disturbance by the patient. The translation into German has been applied for a German population of patients. It was validated by the examination of 316 adult patients, 221 female and 95 male. The reliability of the VHI rests on a high Cronbach's alpha (0.96). A factor analysis in order to structure the items yields four factors that can be interpreted as negative voice experience (factor 1-explaining 20.83% of the variance after rotation), lack of assertiveness (factor 2-18.82%), lack of vocal power (factor 3-12.84%), and negative emotionality (factor 4-11.01%). The mean VHI scores differ significantly from each other in different degrees of voice disturbance as estimated by the patients themselves. The voice handicap index is qualified as a diagnostic tool for German-speaking countries.