Psychological characteristics versus swallowing and speech rehabilitation efficiency in patients after oral cavity cancer excision.

Introduction: Personality traits of the patients surgically treated due to oral cancer form anxiety and depression levels associated with body deformation, as well as life quality during illness, and they are also associated with life span of the patients. It is purposeful to take personality traits into account during treatment management and rehabilitation of the patients. The aim of work is to recognize the association between personality traits and functional rehabilitation course in the patients treated due to oral cancer. Materials and methods: 100 patients (W ­ 42, M ­ 58; 55.78 ±11.68 years) surgically treated due to oral cavity squamous carcinoma. Patients participated in the rehabilitation of oral functions. Wound healing course, postoperative facial deformity, breathing, swallowing, and speech were assessed in relation to "self-image", "body image", and "the level of acceptance of the disease" according to the Adjective Check List ACL-37, Body Cathexis Scale, and Illness Acceptance Scale after 2, 4, and 12 weeks post-surgically. Results: Greater swallowing efficiency after 4 weeks post-surgically was present in patients with a stronger need for order and endurance. Patients who achieved greater speech efficiency in the 4th week post-surgically accepted their illness in a greater part. Patients in whom post-surgical deformity was greater showed lesser intensity in: achievements, domination, endurance, self-exposure, spontaneity in interpersonal contacts. These patients are characterized with lower self-reliance and greater need for counselling.

[Pronunciation and swallowing in patients with tongue deficits following resection of oral cavity tumor]. / Wymowa i polykanie u chorych z pooperacyjnymi ubytkami jekzyka po wyciekciu nowotworu jamy ustnej.

PURPOSE: Anatomical changes due to resection of oral cavity neoplasm result in respiratory, swallowing, pronunciation and mastication disorders of varying extent and intensity. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of pronunciation and efficiency of deglutition in patients operated due to oral cavity neoplasm. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 112 patients (76 males, 36 females, mean age 53 years) after oral tumor excision were examined. Pronunciation quality was evaluated audio-visually using phonemes of contemporary Polish language (according to Roclawski) which were pronounced alone, in syllables and words. Compensatory function was studied as well. Efficiency of deglutition was examined with videofluoroscopy (according to W. J. Dodds). Oral and pharyngeal activities were analyzed and quantified using a 100 - point scale. RESULTS: Speech and swallowing disorders of varying intensity were observed in every patient. The frequency and quality of abnormal phonation and the presence of characteristic compensatory mechanisms depended on the extent of post-operative deficits and functional efficiency of adjacent structures. There was a statistically significant correlation between the quality of pronunciation and efficiency of deglutition.