Speech intelligibility in patients with oral cancer: An objective baseline evaluation of pretreatment function and impairment

Stelzle, Florian; Oetter, Nicolai; Goellner, Luisa Theresa; Adler, Werner; Rohde, Maximilian; Maier, Andreas; Matthies, Levi; Kesting, Marco Rainer und Knipfer, Christian (2019): Speech intelligibility in patients with oral cancer: An objective baseline evaluation of pretreatment function and impairment. In: Head and Neck-Journal for the Sciences and Specialties of the Head and Neck, Vol. 41, No. 4: pp. 1063-1069

Abstract

Background This study seeks to identify those factors that influence the pre-therapeutic speech intelligibility in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Method A group of 172 patients (125 males, 47 females, mean age = 61 +/- 11 a) with different OSCC stages ranging from T1 to T4 and N0 to N2 was examined for their speech intelligibility using a computerized measuring tool, and compared to a healthy reference group (30 males, 10 females, mean age = 59 +/- 12 a). Results It was found that the pre-therapeutic speech intelligibility in patients with OSCC is decreased when compared to a healthy collective. Two demographic factors that influence speech intelligibility could be identified: sex and age. It was determined that the only disease-related factor that influences speech intelligibility before therapy is the location of the tumor. Conclusion The results of this study reveal that a preoperative speech intelligibility impairment in patients suffering from OSCC occurs independent of tumor stage, size of the tumor and infiltration status.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Faculties: Medicine
• Subjects: 600 Technology > 610 Medicine and health
• ISSN: 1043-3074
• Language: English