Adaptation and Validation of Voice Activity and Participation Profile in Tamil

Abstract

Introduction: The study aims to adapt, translate, and validate Voice Activity and Participation Profile in Tamil (VAPP-Tamil) and determine activity limitations and participation restrictions in individuals with dysphonia. Materials and Methods: The original English version of VAPP was adapted culturally and translated into a Tamil questionnaire. Further, reverse translation, content validity, and pilot study were performed. The final version of the VAPP-Tamil questionnaire was administered to 127 healthy controls and 80 subjects with dysphonia. The tool was subjected to validity and reliability measures and was compared with Tamil Voice-Related Quality of Life (TVRQoL) questionnaire. Results: The final version of VAPP-Tamil questionnaire had good internal consistency and acceptable construct validity. Significant differences in mean scores were obtained for the control and dysphonia groups. VAPP-Tamil obtained a strong positive correlation when compared with TVRQoL. The cutoff score for interpretation of the severity of the voice problem was also determined for the questionnaire. Conclusion: VAPP-Tamil is a valid and reliable questionnaire to assess and subjectively quantify the impact of voice problems on quality of life (QoL) of individuals with dysphonia. It provides significant information on the impact of voice on an individual’s activity and participation. Thus, the questionnaire can be used by SLPs for individuals with dysphonia who are native Tamil speakers in assessing their QoL, planning intervention, evaluating outcomes of intervention, and counseling purposes.