Adaptation and validation of the Italian Singing Voice Handicap Index-10 (SVHI-10-IT)

Objective. The aim of this study was to adapt and validate the Italian version of the singing Voice Handicap Index-10 (SVHI-10-IT).Methods. 99 Italian singers were enrolled in the study. All subjects underwent videola-ryngostroboscopic examination and were asked to fill out the self-reported 10-item SVHI-10-IT. Laryngostroboscopic examination was pathological in 56 subjects (study group) (56.6%), while it was normal in the remaining 43 singers (control group) (43.4%). Dimen-sionality, test retest and internal validity for SVHI-10-IT were performed. Videolaryngos-troboscopy was used as gold-standard for external validity.Results. The items of SVHI-10-IT were uni-dimensional and Cronbach's alpha was 0.853 (95% CI = 0.805-0.892). High and comparable area under curve (AUC:0.93 95% CI = 0.88-0.98) values indicate a good ability of the scale to distinguish between the study and control groups. Based on balanced sensitivity (Se = 83.9%) and specificity (Sp = 86.0%), the opti-mal cut-off score for a singer's perceived voice handicap was 12.Conclusions. The SVHI-10-IT is a reliable and valid instrument to evaluate the self -report-ed singing voice handicap among singers. It can also be used as a quick screening tool since a score higher than 12 is indicative of a problematic voice as perceived by singers.