Faculty Collaboration Database

Speech and swallowing function after anterior tongue and floor of mouth resection with distal flap reconstruction. J Speech Hear Res 1993 Apr;36(2):267-76

Date

04/01/1993

Pubmed ID

8487519

DOI

10.1044/jshr.3602.267

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0027210412 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   139 Citations

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the postoperative functioning of oral cancer patients with resections of the anterior tongue and floor of mouth, reconstructed with distal flap closure. Speech and swallowing performance was assessed for 11 men and 5 women preoperatively and at 1 and 3 months postoperatively following a standardized protocol. Speech tasks included an audio recording of a brief conversation and of a standard articulation test; swallowing function was examined using videofluoroscopy. Data were also collected on the number and duration of speech/swallowing treatment sessions, as well as the amount and duration of radiation therapy. Statistical analyses revealed that patients demonstrated a significant and severe impairment in speech and swallow functioning after surgery, with no recovery of function by 3 months post-healing. The degree of impairment in these patients may be related to the adynamic character of the distal flap used for reconstruction. Lack of improvement at the 3-month evaluation may be related to either the timing of postoperative radiation therapy or the low rate (44%) and amount of speech/swallowing treatment provided to these patients.

Author List

Pauloski BR, Logemann JA, Rademaker AW, McConnel FM, Heiser MA, Cardinale S, Shedd D, Lewin J, Baker SR, Graner D

Author

Barbara R. Pauloski PhD, CCC-SLP Associate Professor in the Communication Sciences & Disorders department at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aged
Articulation Disorders
Deglutition Disorders
Female
Fluoroscopy
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Mouth Neoplasms
Oropharyngeal Neoplasms
Phonetics
Radiotherapy
Speech Intelligibility
Speech Production Measurement
Surgical Flaps