Development of a Hindi Version of Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V)

Objective: The purpose of the current study was to develop a Hindi version of the Consensus of Auditory Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V), a tool for speech language pathologists to assess voice quality and degree of hoarseness. The Hindi version of the CAPE-V will be vital in voice assessments conducted in India and across the world for Hindi speaking individuals. Method: The Hindi stimuli matched the original CAPE-V in terms of sentence types and sounds tested. Data were collected in two groups- the first in English and Hindi in bilingual speakers (16 males and 15 females) with normal voice quality. The CAPE-V ratings in both languages were compared to assess the validity of the Hindi version. The second group consisted of 13 Hindi speakers (10 males, 3 females) with disordered voice quality. The ratings in the Hindi CAPE-V were also compared to the GRBAS scale (Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenia, and Strain) as it is the current standard of care in India. Results: A strong correlation was found between the Hindi CAPE-V scores and the English CAPE-V scores in overall severity, roughness, breathiness, and pitch (r>. 0.5, p< .01) in normal participants. A weak correlation was found between the English and Hindi versions for the variable of strain (r<.3, p= .439) in the normative group. A strong correlation (r>. 0.5, p< .01) was found between the overall severity/grade, roughness, and breathiness scores in GRBAS scale and the CAPE-V scale in normal and disordered voice samples. Significant interrater reliability (r> .75) in overall severity and breathiness was noted. Conclusion: The Hindi CAPE-V can be administered reliably to evaluate features of voice quality in Hindi.