PURPOSE: The primary determinants for good speech outcome after glossectomy are not well established. This study evaluated the effect of tongue motility, type of reconstruction, and affected muscles on speech intelligibility. METHODS: Fourteen German glossectomy patients participated in an intelligibility test, which targeted lingual consonants. Tongue motility was rated on nine 3-point scales. Surgical mapping documented type of reconstruction and affected muscles. RESULTS: Mean consonant intelligibility was 71.25% and mean tongue motility was 34%. There was a moderate correlation between tongue motility and consonant intelligibility (r = 0.619). Patients with platysma flap reconstructions (n = 6) had a tendency for more correctly identified consonants. Patients with an intact genioglossus (n = 4) had significantly better tongue motility scores. CONCLUSIONS: The findings support the hypothesis that good tongue motility is a precursor of good postglossectomy speech. Although flap reconstructions led to better consonant intelligibility in this study, this should be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size.
PURPOSE: The primary determinants for good speech outcome after glossectomy are not well established. This study evaluated the effect of tongue motility, type of reconstruction, and affected muscles on speech intelligibility. METHODS: Fourteen German glossectomy patients participated in an intelligibility test, which targeted lingual consonants. Tongue motility was rated on nine 3-point scales. Surgical mapping documented type of reconstruction and affected muscles. RESULTS: Mean consonant intelligibility was 71.25% and mean tongue motility was 34%. There was a moderate correlation between tongue motility and consonant intelligibility (r = 0.619). Patients with platysma flap reconstructions (n = 6) had a tendency for more correctly identified consonants. Patients with an intact genioglossus (n = 4) had significantly better tongue motility scores. CONCLUSIONS: The findings support the hypothesis that good tongue motility is a precursor of good postglossectomy speech. Although flap reconstructions led to better consonant intelligibility in this study, this should be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size.
Authors: Fangxu Xing; Maureen Stone; Tessa Goldsmith; Jerry L Prince; Georges El Fakhri; Jonghye Woo Journal: J Speech Lang Hear Res Date: 2019-07-02 Impact factor: 2.297
Authors: Simone van Dijk; Maarten J A van Alphen; Irene Jacobi; Ludwig E Smeele; Ferdinand van der Heijden; Alfons J M Balm Journal: Dysphagia Date: 2015-10-29 Impact factor: 3.438
Authors: Fangxu Xing; Jonghye Woo; Junghoon Lee; Emi Z Murano; Maureen Stone; Jerry L Prince Journal: J Speech Lang Hear Res Date: 2016-06-01 Impact factor: 2.297
Authors: K D R Kappert; L Voskuilen; L E Smeele; A J M Balm; B Jasperse; A J Nederveen; F van der Heijden Journal: Biomech Model Mechanobiol Date: 2021-03-07
Authors: Kilian D R Kappert; Simone van Dijk; David Wellenstein; Maarten J A van Alphen; Rob J J H van Son; Ludi E Smeele; Alfons J M Balm Journal: Dysphagia Date: 2020-10-11 Impact factor: 3.438