BackgroundThe comprehensive counseling of patients with olfactory dysfunctions requires accurate diagnosis. The recommendations include subjective assessment. The Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders (QOD) is a disease‐specific questionnaire for the subjective evaluation of olfactory dysfunctions.MaterialThe study included 54 patients with olfactory dysfunctions, who were recruited to the study group (SG). The other 47 patients without the history of olfactory dysfunction and nasal cavity pathology were voluntarily allocated to the control group (CG). The protocol of the study was introduced to each patient and included: olfactory testing with Sniffin' Stick test, fulfillment of the Polish version of World Health Organization Quality of Life brief questionnaire and completing of the Polish version of the QOD. All participants (101) were invited for refilling the QOD questionnaire after 2 weeks for the test–retest statistics.ResultsThe Polish QOD statements were significantly correlated and met the requirement by having test–retest correlation larger than 0.7. We found that internal consistency of the test measured by Cronbach's alpha coefficient was very high. The mean scores of the QOD test in normosmic SG patients were compared with corresponding scores in normosmic CG patients using U Mann–Whitney test. The analysis revealed statistically significant differences on mean QOD scores for each domains except QOD‐S between both groups.ConclusionsThe Polish version of the QOD demonstrated high rate of the validity and the reliability. This instrument may be widely used in research projects and clinical practice concerning olfactory disorders in Polish patients.Level of EvidenceNA.
This paper presents the role of a clinical speech therapist in a team of specialists involved in the treatment and rehabilitation of people after total laryngectomy. Particular attention was paid to the necessity of cooperation in a group of specialists and the stages of the rehabilitation process of the substitute voice and smell were presented.
Total laryngectomy removes the larynx and separates the oral and nasal cavities from the lower respiratory tract. In the process of speech therapy of laryngectomiezed patients, the main element is the voice rehabilitation, and the olfactory functions are often neglected. The work contains contemporary literature review on the methods of olfactory function assessment, techniques of its stimulation and the possibility of monitoring the progress of rehabilitation.
Introduction: The challenges of modern medicine go beyond merely effective diagnostics and therapy for extension of human life, but must also strive to improve its quality. The benefits of multidisciplinary cooperation in patient care are now unquestionable and result in the dissemination of such a trend among most medical fields. Clinical speech therapists are valuable partners for otorhinolaryngologists in the treatment of many diseases of the head and neck region. Aim: The aim of this article is to present the role of the speech therapist at an otorhinolaryngology ward, as well as to analyze the current legal regulations that constitute the basis for such cooperation. In accordance with the legal regulations currently in force in Poland, the position of a speech therapist at the otolaryngology department is financed for the rehabilitation of patients with cochlear implant and brain stem implants. Unfortunately, the role of a speech therapist in other diseases including voice, speech, hearing and swallowing disorders within otorhinolaryngology wards has not yet been sanctioned, hence many patients continue to be deprived of comprehensive pre- and postoperative care. Conclusion: Speech therapy rehabilitation in ENT departments, apart from patients with hearing loss, is particularly important for patients with organic lesions of the larynx undergoing intra-laryngeal surgery as well as open surgery procedures, patients with neurogenic voice and/or swallowing disorders or as a result of iatrogenic dysfunction. Such therapy includes diagnostic and information activities as well as exercises to improve functions. Speech therapists contribute substantially to the comprehensive care of patients both in the preoperative and postoperative periods.
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