FORMULATION OF A VOICE PROBLEM SELF ASSESSMENT SCALE (VPSS) AS A PATIENT BASED TOOL FOR EGYPTIAN DYSPHONIC POPULATION

Introduction: The perceptions of a disability regarding its effect on work, social, and daily activities of an individual in the population of less-developed countries may be different from those of highly developed countries. Aim of the study was: (1) To develop voice problem self assessment tool suitable to the Egyptian population, that is clear with minimal bias, reliable and covering functional, social and emotional and voice symptoms (2) to establish the reliability and validity of the developed tool. Methods: The questionnaire was formulated and was labeled Voice Problem Self Assessment Scale (VPSS). It is five points scaled and constitute of four clusters (Functional, Physical, Emotional and Phonasthenic). A hundred and fifteen individuals (75 dysphonic patients and 40 subjects having no dysphonia) were asked to fulfill the questionnaire. The reliability was revealed by test retest (Cronbach’s alpha of .712-.922). Validation studies revealed significant difference between patient and control and showed good correlation between total VPSS and its clusters. After application of the VPSS it was revised and a shorter form of 20 question emerged. This short form was further subjected to studies of reliability (Cronbach’s alpha ranged from .754-.942) and validation. Conclusion: The short version of voice problem self-assessment scale (VPSS) was proven to be valid and reliable and more suitable for clinical practice.