The SCL and TL surgical procedures for advanced stage laryngeal carcinoma resulted in equivalent speech and swallowing functional outcomes.

The effects of age, gender and task on speech fluency performance in three speaking conditions were examined in 78 older (55–92 years) talkers. Results were analyzed for significant differences (p ≤ 0.01) as a function of age, gender and task between speakers groups formed on increasingly older chronological age and as compared to a young (25–35 years) control group. The relationship between speech fluency and speech rate performance data obtained on the same tasks was also examined. Only a few significant effects and/or interactions were found for the variables in this study. These findings are discussed and compared to those of other recent studies.

The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether there were any signs of structural and/or neuromuscular aberrations in the speech mechanisms of children who were previously diagnosed as having "functional" articulation disorders. These children were compared with a group of normally articulating children. Results of in-depth oral mechanism examinations revealed no significant differences between these groups on any of the measures made. The clinical implications of such findings are discussed.

OBJECTIVES: The investigation compared speech and deglutition functions after alternative surgical treatments for advanced stage laryngeal carcinoma: the supracricoid laryngectomy (SCL) versus the total laryngectomy (TL). STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Cohort investigation at Wayne State University School of Medicine. METHODS: Quantitative studies of laryngeal biomechanics, acoustic and speech aerodynamic features, and deglutition skills of these individuals were coupled to listener and patient self-impressions of speech and voice characteristics for group comparative analyses. RESULTS: Results revealed that patients from each subgroup performed comparably relative to speech intelligibility and voice quality disturbances. Videostroboscopy of the neoglottal mechanisms in these two populations helped to explain these outcomes. Acoustic and speech aerodynamic testing demonstrated variably abnormal features in both surgical subgroups. Whereas the SCL patients eventually achieved full oral diets, they required many sessions of swallowing therapy to obtain this objective and eliminate tube feeding supplementation. The TL patients did not evidence protracted swallowing difficulties or the need for specific exercises in order to remove their feeding tubes postoperatively. References to organ preservation strategies in lieu of surgical management are included for completeness purposes. CONCLUSIONS: The SCL and TL surgical procedures for advanced stage laryngeal carcinoma resulted in equivalent speech and swallowing functional outcomes. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2003;129:311–20.)

No abstract

An orientation program which was cognitive in nature and based on the philosophy of, responsibility for, and control of one’s own speech behavior was administered to six stutterers. The program consisted of 11 discrete steps, culminating in a demonstration of fluent speech. The first seven steps are philosophically based and orient the subjects to talk positively in terms of fluency. The last four steps are performance centered. A pre- and postorientation questionnaire was administered to assess attitude change during the program. Results indicate significant reduction in stuttering for all six subjects. In addition, several variations of the program were examined, including altering its length and sequencing the steps within it.

No abstract

No abstract