Esophageal voice training and quality of life in laryngectomees / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the extensive and degree of physical rehabilitation improvement of the quality of life in laryngectomees.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty nine patients who underwent total laryngectomies were trained by esophageal voice rehabilitation successfully. The questionnaires of performance status scale for head and neck cancer patients (PSS-HN) and the functional assessment of head and neck cancer therapy (FACT-H&N) were answered by them before esophageal voice training and 3 months after successful vocal rehabilitation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Total laryngectomy deteriorated the quality of life in laryngectomees. The mean scores of PSS-HN scale and FACT-H&N questionnaire were lower than the criteria scores after patients underwent total laryngectomy, the mean score were 131. 4,90.6 respectively, the difference was significant statistically (t =53. 673, P <0.001) , (t = 67.44, P <0.001). After successful esophageal speech training, the mean scores of the laryngectomees were improved both in PSS-HN scale and FACT-H&N which were 240.4 and 103.7 respectively, the difference was significant statistically (t = 18.209, P < 0.001) , (t = 21.389, P<0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The quality of life in laryngectomees can be improved by physical rehabilitation and the esophageal voice training.</p>