Speech outcomes in Cantonese patients after glossectomy.

BACKGROUND

We sought to determine the major factors affecting speech production of Cantonese-speaking glossectomized patients. Error pattern was analyzed.

METHODS

Forty-one Cantonese-speaking subjects who had undergone glossectomy > or = 6 months previously were recruited. Speech production evaluation included (1) phonetic error analysis in nonsense syllable; (2) speech intelligibility in sentences evaluated by naive listeners; (3) overall speech intelligibility in conversation evaluated by experienced speech therapists.

RESULTS

Patients receiving adjuvant radiotherapy had significantly poorer segmental and connected speech production. Total or subtotal glossectomy also resulted in poor speech outcomes. Patients having free flap reconstruction showed the best speech outcomes. Patients without lymph node metastasis had significantly better speech scores when compared with patients with lymph node metastasis. Initial consonant production had the worst scores, while vowel production was the least affected.

CONCLUSION

Speech outcomes of Cantonese-speaking glossectomized patients depended on the severity of the disease. Initial consonants had the greatest effect on speech intelligibility.