Translation and validation of the Voice Handicap Index-10 in Marathi: giving voice to a region

Background: Dysphonia significantly affects communication and quality of life, with its subjective impact often not correlating with objective laryngeal findings. Patient-reported outcome measures, such as the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10), are therefore essential in comprehensive voice assessment. However, the clinical utility of such tools depends on their linguistic and cultural appropriateness. Despite Marathi being widely spoken in Western India, a validated Marathi version of the VHI-10 has not been available. Objective: To translate the VHI-10 into Marathi and to evaluate its reliability among Marathi-speaking patients with dysphonia. Materials and Methods: The English VHI-10 was translated into Marathi using a standardized translation and back-translation methodology, followed by expert review. Content validity was assessed among 50 bilingual Marathi speakers. Test–retest reliability was evaluated in 50 dysphonic patients who completed the Marathi VHI-10 (VHI-M) twice over a 14-day interval. The study was conducted prospectively in a tertiary care ear, nose, and throat outpatient setting. Internal consistency was assessed using the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, and test–retest reliability was evaluated using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Results: The mean total VHI score was 14.64 ± 10.12. The VHI-M demonstrated excellent internal consistency, with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.96. Test–retest reliability showed a strong correlation ( r = 0.95; P < 0.001), indicating high reproducibility. All questionnaire items showed good item-total correlation, confirming robust internal reliability. Conclusion: The Marathi version of the VHI-10 is a reliable and stable self-assessment tool for evaluating voice-related handicap in Marathi-speaking patients with dysphonia. Its use can facilitate improved patient assessment, counseling, and documentation of treatment outcomes in routine clinical practice.