The French version of Speech Handicap Index: validation and comparison with the Voice Handicap Index

This study aimed to adapt the Speech Handicap Index (SHI) in French, to compare it with the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) and to study its relevance in dysarthric patients.

Two hundred and twenty-nine subjects filled out the French versions of the SHI and VHI. SHI test-retest reliability was performed on 82 subjects. Psychometric properties were analyzed in 112 healthy controls and 89 patients with speech disorders. Mean scores of 89 speech-disordered and 28 dysphonic patients were obtained.

For SHI, internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha >0.9) and test-retest reliability (Spearman’s r > 0.75) were high. Mean scores were significantly different between healthy subjects (8/120) and patients (52/120) (p < 0.0001). Scores were statistically different between dysphonic (40/120) and speech-disordered patients (52/120) (p < 0.05), and also between patients with oropharyngeal surgery (44/120) and dysarthric patients (57/120) (p < 0.05). Patients with speech difficulties had higher scores on the SHI than dysphonic patients (p < 0.05).

The French SHI is a reliable and sensitive tool. It can be proposed to all patients with speech disorders. The contrasting results between the SHI and the VHI highlight the importance in giving the appropriate questionnaire tailored to the patient’s pathology.