Quality of Life in Patients Treated for Tongue and/or Jaw Neoplasia Before and After Speech Therapy

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study aims to verify the impact of four speech therapy sessions on the Quality of Life of patients treated for malignant tongue and/or jaw cancer, using as measure specific questionnaires of speech and swallowing. The hypothesis is that after treatment with exercises and speech therapy guidance, patients will present better indicators on Quality of Life related to speech and swallowing.

Official Title
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Quality of Life in Patients Treated for Tongue and/or Jaw Neoplasia Before and After Speech Therapy: a Randomized Clinical Trial

Conditions
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Tongue Cancer, Jaw Cancer, Oral Cancer, Intelligibility, Speech

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Speech-language guidance
* Other: Speech therapy exercises for swallowing
* Other: Speech therapy exercises for speech


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Over 18 Years Tongue and/or Jaw Neoplasm Submitted to surgical treatment Exclusion Criteria: Under 18 Years Cognitive impairment or deficits in language comprehension Previous speech therapy intervention Recurrence or active disease Death during the intervention

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Study group<br> | Other: Speech-language guidance<br>* Speech-language guidance for speech enhancement and on food management in terms of consistency, volumes, utensils and temperature, beyond the care for safe and efficient swallowing.<br>Other: Speech therapy exercises for swallowing<br>* Use of lip exercises and facial muscles, laryngeal elevation maneuver and airway protection technique, 5 repetitions 3 times a day for a month.<br>Other: Speech therapy exercises for speech<br>* Use of over-articulation technique and glottal firmness exercise, 5 repetitions 3 times a day for a month.<br>|
| No Intervention: Control Group<br> | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes in Quality of Life Scores related to swallowing | To measure the changes in Quality of Life related to swallowing it was used the questionnaire Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI) | 1 month | 
| Changes in Quality of Life Scores related to speech | To measure the changes in Quality of Life related to speech it was used the questionnaire Speech Handicap Index (SHI) | 1 month | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes in Dysphagia Classification | To measure the changes in Dysphagia classification it was used the Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing, exam that evaluate the functionability of swallow. These exams were presented to three judges (speech therapists) that in agreement classified the degree of dysphagia | 1 month | 
| Changes in Speech Intelligibility Classification | To measure the changes in Speech Intelligibility it was used speech recordings that were analysed by three judges (speech therapists) that in agreement classified the degree of speech intelligibility | 1 month | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Speech therapy, Dysphagia, Speech Intelligibility, Quality of Life