Irene Jacobi1, Maya A van Rossum2, Lisette van der Molen1, Frans J M Hilgers3, Michiel W M van den Brekel3. 1. Department of Head and Neck Oncology and Surgery, Netherlands Cancer Institute. 2. Department of Ear, Nose, Throat, University Medical Center Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands. 3. Academic Medical Center, Institute of Phonetic Sciences, Amsterdam Center for Language and Communication, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to characterize articulation proficiency and differences between tumor sites before and after chemoradiotherapy for advanced head and neck cancer with the help of acoustic measures. Our further goal was to improve objective speech measures and gain insight into muscle functioning before and after treatment. METHODS: In 34 patients with laryngeal or hypopharyngeal, nasal or nasopharyngeal, or oral or oropharyngeal cancer, we acoustically analyzed nasality, vowel space, precision, and strength of articulation in 12 speech sounds (/a/, /i/, /u/, /p/, /s/, /z/, /1/, /t/, /tj/, /k/, /x/, /r/) before treatment and 10 weeks and 1 year after treatment. Outcomes were compared between assessment points and between tumor sites. RESULTS:Nasality in nonlaryngeal sites was significantly reduced by treatment. Most affected in articulation were the oral or oropharyngeal cancer sites, followed by the nasal or nasopharyngeal sites. One year after treatment, vowel space had not recovered and consonant articulation had weakened. Laryngeal sites were less affected in articulation by tumor or treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Analyses of articulatory-acoustic features are a useful instrument for assessing articulation and speech quality objectively. Assessment of a number of sounds representing various articulation manners, places, and tongue shapes revealed patterns of speech deterioration after chemoradiotherapy. The results suggest that patients' speech could benefit from articulation exercises to address changes in muscle coordination and/or sensitivity and to counteract side effects and "underexercise" atrophy.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to characterize articulation proficiency and differences between tumor sites before and after chemoradiotherapy for advanced head and neck cancer with the help of acoustic measures. Our further goal was to improve objective speech measures and gain insight into muscle functioning before and after treatment. METHODS: In 34 patients with laryngeal or hypopharyngeal, nasal or nasopharyngeal, or oral or oropharyngeal cancer, we acoustically analyzed nasality, vowel space, precision, and strength of articulation in 12 speech sounds (/a/, /i/, /u/, /p/, /s/, /z/, /1/, /t/, /tj/, /k/, /x/, /r/) before treatment and 10 weeks and 1 year after treatment. Outcomes were compared between assessment points and between tumor sites. RESULTS: Nasality in nonlaryngeal sites was significantly reduced by treatment. Most affected in articulation were the oral or oropharyngeal cancer sites, followed by the nasal or nasopharyngeal sites. One year after treatment, vowel space had not recovered and consonant articulation had weakened. Laryngeal sites were less affected in articulation by tumor or treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Analyses of articulatory-acoustic features are a useful instrument for assessing articulation and speech quality objectively. Assessment of a number of sounds representing various articulation manners, places, and tongue shapes revealed patterns of speech deterioration after chemoradiotherapy. The results suggest that patients' speech could benefit from articulation exercises to address changes in muscle coordination and/or sensitivity and to counteract side effects and "underexercise" atrophy.
Authors: Irene Jacobi; Arash Navran; Lisette van der Molen; Wilma D Heemsbergen; Frans J M Hilgers; Michiel W M van den Brekel Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2015-02-01 Impact factor: 2.503
Authors: Sophie A C Kraaijenga; Lisette van der Molen; Irene Jacobi; Olga Hamming-Vrieze; Frans J M Hilgers; Michiel W M van den Brekel Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2014-11-08 Impact factor: 2.503
Authors: Sara C Parke; David Michael Langelier; Jessica Tse Cheng; Cristina Kline-Quiroz; Michael Dean Stubblefield Journal: Curr Oncol Rep Date: 2022-02-19 Impact factor: 5.075
Authors: Rebecca T Karsten; Najiba Chargi; Lisette van der Molen; Rob J J H van Son; Remco de Bree; Abrahim Al-Mamgani; Jan P de Boer; Frans J M Hilgers; Michiel W M van den Brekel; Ludi E Smeele; Martijn M Stuiver Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2021-05-27 Impact factor: 2.503