Parent and child responses to the paediatric voice related quality of life questionnaire

When assessing paediatric dysphonia there are different approaches that can be taken in gathering a subjective view of the impact voice difficulties have on a child. Most valid questionnaires require parent proxy reporting while it has become increasingly important to gather the views of children themselves. This study reports a pilot study of an adaptation to the Pediatric Quality of Life Questionnaire (PVRQoL). 24 parent and child dyads were recruited from a tertiary paediatric voice clinic. Children were aged between 3;08 and 15;03. Parents completed the existing PVRQoL questionnaire while their children were given a child adapted version. Follow up completion of the child questionnaire was conducted after a two week period. There was a good correlation between the two time periods when children completed the adapted PVRQoL and also between parent and child responses. Of particular interest however was the different ratings on individual items by parents and their children with parents tending to overestimate the extent to which their children may be emotionally affected by their voice disorder. This study shows that children have much to tell about their own voice related quality of life so our conclusion is that they should be asked. The PVRQoL when adapted for use with children offers an additional insight that can be gathered in a relatively short timeframe and be considered with other assessments of vocal function.