Communicative Participation in Dysarthria: Perspectives for Management.

Communicative participation is restricted in many conditions associated with dysarthria. This position paper defines and describes the construct of communicative participation. In it, the emergence of this construct is reviewed, along with the predictors of and variables associated with communicative participation in the dysarthrias. In doing so, the features that make communicative participation unique and distinct from other measures of dysarthria are highlighted, through emphasizing how communicative participation cannot be predicted solely from other components of the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), including levels of impairment or activity limitations. Next, the empirical literature related to the measurement of communicative participation and how this research relates to dysarthria management is presented. Finally, the development of robust clinical measures of communicative participation and approaches to management is described from the point of view of the clinician. We argue that communicative participation should be a primary focus of treatment planning and intervention to provide patient-centered, holistic, and value-based clinical interventions which are responsive to the needs of individuals living with dysarthria.

Older adults' perceptions of current and future hearing healthcare services in Australia, England, US and Canada.

OBJECTIVE: A high prevalence of hearing loss in older adults contrasts with a small proportion of people who seek help. Emerging developments in hearing healthcare (HHC) could reduce costs but may not increase access. This study evaluated older adults' perceptions of current and future HHC services in Australia, England, US and Canada to explore potential levers and system improvements. METHODS: Semi-structured focus groups (n = 47) were conducted, and data were analysed using a directed content analysis. Participants were adults 60 years and older with a) no hearing problems; b) hearing problems and hearing aid use; and c) hearing problems and no hearing aid use. RESULTS: Perceived barriers, facilitators and preferences were largely consistent across countries, with stigma and trust in HHC being the barriers most often discussed. CONCLUSION: Although cost and access were consistently deemed important, there may be limited change in help-seeking and HHC uptake unless the key barriers of trust and stigma are addressed. When seeking to undertake transformative change to healthcare it is important to engage recipients of care to understand existing barriers and coproduce a user-centered solution.

The best possible start: A qualitative study on the experiences of parents of young children with or at risk for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

BACKGROUND: The developmental outcomes and life course trajectories of young children with or at-risk for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) can be optimized when individual and family needs are identified early and met with family-centered early intervention (EI) services. However, little is known about access to and quality of EI services with this high-needs population. METHOD: Twenty-five biological or adoptive parents of children with or at high risk for FASD, living in the greater area of Seattle, Washington participated in this qualitative study. Three focus groups were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. Participants described their experience with EI, as well as other supports and challenges faced in their child's first three years of life. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and coded using phenomenological methods. Themes that were consistent across participant groups emerged from the data, as well as themes that showed differences among participant experiences. RESULTS: Common EI supports and needs between biological and adoptive parent groups were identified. In addition, perspectives and needs unique to each parent group were revealed. Themes were identified and organized into three categories: (1) child needs; (2) parent needs and priorities; and (3) EI capacity. When parents talked about their child's cognitive, physical, communication or adaptive development, they all discussed how EI was meeting those needs. In contrast, when parents expressed concern for their child's social-emotional development, a description of how EI was supporting these needs was missing from the conversation. Parents appreciated when EI providers were truthful, provided anticipatory guidance, and connected them with supports for their own social-emotional well-being. Yet there were unmet needs for respite care, and parents expressed that support for basic needs related to child or family survival was not consistently recognized as a top priority for families. This high-risk group of young children and their parents also encountered a multitude of transitions in their child's early years and later. Parents wanted more support navigating these transitions as they entered or moved through different systems of care. CONCLUSIONS: Parents appreciated and endorsed the importance of EI with its provision of individualized, family-centered supports and resources. Examination of the gaps and unmet needs that are common and distinct underscore the importance of an FASD-informed approach to EI. Study findings provide insight into areas for which EI enhancements could be developed in order to tailor supports for the complex needs of this diverse population of children and parents.

Swallowing with Noninvasive Positive-Pressure Ventilation (NPPV) in Individuals with Muscular Dystrophy: A Qualitative Analysis.

The purpose of the study is to describe experiences of swallowing with two forms of noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NPPV): mouthpiece NPPV (M-NPPV) and nasal bilevel positive airway pressure (BPAP) in people with muscular dystrophy. Ten men (ages 22-42 years; M = 29.3; SD = 7.1) with muscular dystrophy (9 with Duchenne's; 1 with Becker's) completed the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10; Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 117(12):919-924 [33]) and took part in semi-structured interviews. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and verified. Phenomenological qualitative research methods were used to code (Dedoose.com) and develop themes. All participants affirmed dysphagia symptoms via responses on the EAT-10 (M = 11.3; SD = 6.38; Range = 3-22) and reported eating and drinking with M-NPPV and, to a lesser extent, nasal BPAP. Analysis of interview data revealed three primary themes: (1) M-NPPV improves the eating/drinking experience: Most indicated that using M-NPPV reduced swallowing-related dyspnea. (2) NPPV affects breathing-swallowing coordination: Participants described challenges and compensations in coordinating swallowing with ventilator-delivered inspirations, and that the time needed to chew solid foods between ventilator breaths may lead to dyspnea and fatigue. (3) M-NPPV aids cough effectiveness: Participants described improved cough strength following large M-NPPV delivered inspirations (with or without breath stacking). Although breathing-swallowing coordination is challenging with NPPV, participants reported that eating and drinking is more comfortable than when not using it. Overall, eating and drinking with NPPV delivered via a mouthpiece is preferred and is likely safer for swallowing than with nasal BPAP. M-NPPV (but not nasal BPAP) is reported to improve cough effectiveness, an important pulmonary defense in this population.

The Consequences of Oromandibular Dystonia on Communicative Participation: A Qualitative Study of the Insider's Experiences.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to obtain a self-reported account of the experience of living with oromandibular dystonia (OMD) to gain a better understanding of both the daily facilitators and barriers to communicative participation and the strategies used for adapting to life with OMD. Method Eight individuals with OMD and dysarthria participated in 1 face-to-face, semistructured interview. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative, phenomenological methods of coding, immersion, and emergence were used in the analysis of interview data. Results Three major themes and 7 subthemes emerged from the analysis of interview data. First, "speaking is different now" provided examples of how speech changes are manifested in various life situations. Second, "my roles have changed" addressed how OMD has impacted work, home, and social roles. Third, "I accept it and move on" involved finding strategies that help and adopting a different perspective. Conclusion We suggest that the management of OMD must take a more holistic approach by addressing consequences beyond the physical symptoms and be tailored to each individual based on his or her personal concerns and goals.

Experiences of Speaking With Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation: A Qualitative Investigation.

Purpose The aim of this study was to describe experiences of speaking with 2 forms of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV)-mouthpiece NPPV (M-NPPV) and nasal bilevel positive airway pressure (BPAP)-in people with neuromuscular disorders who depend on NPPV for survival. Method Twelve participants (ages 22-68 years; 10 men, 2 women) with neuromuscular disorders (9 Duchenne muscular dystrophy, 1 Becker muscular dystrophy, 1 postpolio syndrome, and 1 spinal cord injury) took part in semistructured interviews about their speech. All subjects used M-NPPV during the day, and all but 1 used BPAP at night for their ventilation needs. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and verified. A qualitative descriptive phenomenological approach was used to code and develop themes. Results Three major themes emerged from the interview data: (a) M-NPPV aids speaking (by increasing loudness, utterance duration, clarity, and speaking endurance), (b) M-NPPV interferes with the flow of speaking (due to the need to pause to take a breath, problems with mouthpiece placement, and difficulty in using speech recognition software), and (c) nasal BPAP interferes with speaking (by causing abnormal nasal resonance, muffled speech, mask discomfort, and difficulty in coordinating speaking with ventilator-delivered inspirations). Conclusion These qualitative data from chronic NPPV users suggest that both M-NPPV and nasal BPAP may interfere with speaking but that speech is usually better and speaking is usually easier with M-NPPV. These findings can be explained primarily by the nature of the 2 ventilator delivery systems and their interfaces.

The Relationship Between Non-Orthographic Language Abilities and Reading Performance in Chronic Aphasia: An Exploration of the Primary Systems Hypothesis.

Purpose: This study investigated the relationship between non-orthographic language abilities and reading in order to examine assumptions of the primary systems hypothesis and further our understanding of language processing poststroke. Method: Performance on non-orthographic semantic, phonologic, and syntactic tasks, as well as oral reading and reading comprehension tasks, was assessed in 43 individuals with aphasia. Correlation and regression analyses were conducted to determine the relationship between these measures. In addition, analyses of variance examined differences within and between reading groups (within normal limits, phonological, deep, or global alexia). Results: Results showed that non-orthographic language abilities were significantly related to reading abilities. Semantics was most predictive of regular and irregular word reading, whereas phonology was most predictive of pseudohomophone and nonword reading. Written word and paragraph comprehension were primarily supported by semantics, whereas written sentence comprehension was related to semantic, phonologic, and syntactic performance. Finally, severity of alexia was found to reflect severity of semantic and phonologic impairment. Conclusions: Findings support the primary systems view of language by showing that non-orthographic language abilities and reading abilities are closely linked. This preliminary work requires replication and extension; however, current results highlight the importance of routine, integrated assessment and treatment of spoken and written language in aphasia. Supplemental Material: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.7403963.

Exploring the Relevance of Items in the Communicative Participation Item Bank (CPIB) for Individuals With Hearing Loss.

PURPOSE: The Communicative Participation Item Bank (CPIB) was developed to evaluate participation restrictions in communication situations for individuals with speech and language disorders. This study evaluated the potential relevance of CPIB items for individuals with hearing loss. METHOD: Cognitive interviews were conducted with 17 adults with a range of treated and untreated hearing loss, who responded to 46 items. Interviews were continued until saturation was reached and prevalent trends emerged. A focus group was also conducted with 3 experienced audiologists to seek their views on the CPIB. Analysis of data included qualitative and quantitative approaches. RESULTS: The majority of the items were applicable to individuals with hearing loss; however, 12 items were identified as potentially not relevant. This was largely attributed to the items' focus on speech production rather than hearing. The results from the focus group were in agreement for a majority of items. CONCLUSIONS: The next step in validating the CPIB for individuals with hearing loss is a psychometric analysis on a large sample. Possible outcomes could be that the CPIB is considered valid in its entirety or the creation of a new questionnaire or a hearing loss-specific short form with a subset of items is necessary.

Variables associated with communicative participation in Parkinson's disease and its relationship to measures of health-related quality-of-life.

PURPOSE: Communication disorders associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) often lead to restricted participation in life roles, yet there is a limited understanding of influencing factors and few quantitative measurement tools available. This study aimed to identify variables associated with communicative participation in PD and to examine the relationship between the Communicative Participation Item Bank (CPIB) and existing health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) measures. METHOD: Self-report data from 378 participants with PD from the US and New Zealand were analysed. Data included responses to the CPIB, PD Questionnaire-8, sub-scales of the Global Health instrument from the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) and additional self-report instruments. RESULT: Greater perceived speech disorder, lower levels of speech usage, fatigue, cognitive and emotional problems and swallowing difficulties were associated with lower levels of communicative participation. Participants' age significantly influenced findings, interacting with country of residence, sex and speech usage. Scores on the CPIB were moderately correlated with HRQoL measures. CONCLUSION: Communicative participation in PD is complex and influenced by both demographic and disease-based variables, necessitating a broader view of the communicative experiences of those with PD. Measurement of communicative participation as a separate construct to existing HRQoL measures is recommended.

Growing Older With a Physical Disability: A Special Application of the Successful Aging Paradigm.

OBJECTIVES: In the United States, the average age of people living with early-acquired physical disabilities is increasing. This cohort is said to be aging with disability and represents a unique population among older adults. Given recent policy efforts designed to merge aging and disability services, it is critical that models of "successful aging" include and are relevant to this population. However, many current definitions of successful aging emphasize avoidance of disability and high levels of physical function as necessary to well-being. METHOD: In 9 focus groups, we examined perspectives of "successful aging" in 49 middle-aged and older individuals living with spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, or postpolio syndrome. Transcripts were analyzed using a structured qualitative coding approach and Dedoose indexing software. RESULTS: Participants ranged in age from 45 to 80 years (M = 62) and had lived with their disability diagnosis for an average of 21 years. Analysis revealed 4 primary themes of successful aging: resilience/adaptation, autonomy, social connectedness, and physical health (including access to general and specialty healthcare). DISCUSSION: Results highlight the need for a nuanced application of the "successful aging" paradigm in this population.

Addressing Communicative Participation in Treatment Planning for Adults: A Survey of U.S. Speech-Language Pathologists.

PURPOSE: In speech-language pathology, there is increasing attention on participation-focused interventions to optimize participation in valued life roles. The purpose of this study was to investigate how speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in the United States address life participation in therapy programs, as well as their opinions regarding barriers and facilitators to participation-focused intervention. METHOD: An online questionnaire presented case scenarios for aphasia, dysarthria, and laryngectomy to 66 SLPs who have worked with adults. SLPs were asked to write goals and describe therapy activities for the scenarios. The final section of the questionnaire was an open-ended question regarding barriers and facilitators to participation-focused intervention. RESULTS: Many SLPs addressed participation in their rationales for therapy; 50% of goals had a participation-focused rationale. However, the goals, activities, and outcomes measures typically focused more on impairment and skill performance. Only 8% of goals specifically referenced participation. Although many SLPs stated that participation-focused intervention is important, they identified many barriers to implementation including time and productivity constraints, limits of clinical settings, and documentation challenges. CONCLUSIONS: There is potential for gaps between SLPs' participation-focused rationale for therapy and activities or outcomes measures that often do not include participation elements. SLPs are interested in participation-focused treatment resources.

The relationship between communicative participation and postlaryngectomy speech outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between communicative participation and postlaryngectomy speech outcomes, including listener-rated speech intelligibility and acceptability, and patient-rated speech acceptability and voice handicap. METHODS: Thirty-six laryngectomized individuals completed the Communicative Participation Item Bank (CPIB) short form and the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10). They provided recordings from the Sentence Intelligibility Test (SIT) and a reading passage, and rated their own speech acceptability. Forty-eight inexperienced listeners transcribed the SIT sentences to derive intelligibility scores. Eighteen additional listeners judged the speech acceptability using the rating scales. RESULTS: Listeners judged tracheoesophageal speakers as significantly more intelligible and acceptable than electrolaryngeal speakers (p < .05). Speech acceptability was significantly more acceptable to speakers than listeners (p < .05). Weak, nonsignificant relationships were found between communicative participation and listener-rated outcomes. Stronger, significant relationships were found between communicative participation and self-rated speech acceptability and voice handicap (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Patient-reported communication outcomes are complementary to listener-rated outcomes. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E1955-E1961, 2016.

Describing Speech Usage in Daily Activities in Typical Adults.

OBJECTIVES: "Speech usage" refers to what people want or need to do with their speech to meet communication demands in life roles. The purpose of this study was to contribute to validation of the Levels of Speech Usage scale by providing descriptive data from a sample of adults without communication disorders, comparing this scale to a published Occupational Voice Demands scale and examining predictors of speech usage levels. STUDY DESIGN: This is a survey design. METHODS: Adults aged ≥25 years without reported communication disorders were recruited nationally to complete an online questionnaire. The questionnaire included the Levels of Speech Usage scale, questions about relevant occupational and nonoccupational activities (eg, socializing, hobbies, childcare, and so forth), and demographic information. Participants were also categorized according to Koufman and Isaacson occupational voice demands scale. RESULTS: A total of 276 participants completed the questionnaires. People who worked for pay tended to report higher levels of speech usage than those who do not work for pay. Regression analyses showed employment to be the major contributor to speech usage; however, considerable variance left unaccounted for suggests that determinants of speech usage and the relationship between speech usage, employment, and other life activities are not yet fully defined. CONCLUSIONS: The Levels of Speech Usage may be a viable instrument to systematically rate speech usage because it captures both occupational and nonoccupational speech demands. These data from a sample of typical adults may provide a reference to help in interpreting the impact of communication disorders on speech usage patterns.

Everyday listeners' impressions of speech produced by individuals with adductor spasmodic dysphonia.

Individuals with adductor spasmodic dysphonia (ADSD) have reported that unfamiliar communication partners appear to judge them as sneaky, nervous or not intelligent, apparently based on the quality of their speech; however, there is minimal research into the actual everyday perspective of listening to ADSD speech. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impressions of listeners hearing ADSD speech for the first time using a mixed-methods design. Everyday listeners were interviewed following sessions in which they made ratings of ADSD speech. A semi-structured interview approach was used and data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Three major themes emerged: (1) everyday listeners make judgments about speakers with ADSD; (2) ADSD speech does not sound normal to everyday listeners; and (3) rating overall severity is difficult for everyday listeners. Participants described ADSD speech similarly to existing literature; however, some listeners inaccurately extrapolated speaker attributes based solely on speech samples. Listeners may draw erroneous conclusions about individuals with ADSD and these biases may affect the communicative success of these individuals. Results have implications for counseling individuals with ADSD, as well as the need for education and awareness about ADSD.

Review of secondary health conditions in postpolio syndrome: prevalence and effects of aging.

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to better understand the prevalence and the severity of secondary health conditions in individuals with postpolio syndrome (PPS) as well as the association between these conditions and aging. DESIGN: A scoping literature review was conducted searching electronic databases for studies published from 1986 to 2011. The scoping review provided information regarding the prevalence and associations of secondary health conditions in PPS with age or other duration-related variables. RESULTS: The findings indicate that (1) individuals with PPS experience a number of serious secondary health conditions; (2) the most common conditions or symptoms are fatigue, pain, respiratory and sleep complaints, and increased risk for falls; (3) reports of the associations between the frequency or the severity of conditions and age-related factors are variable, perhaps because of methodological inconsistencies between studies; and (4) there is a marked lack of longitudinal research examining the natural course of health conditions in people aging with PPS. CONCLUSIONS: Longitudinal research is needed to understand the course of health conditions and the impact of multiple secondary conditions in people aging with PPS. Efforts are also needed to develop and test the efficacy of interventions to prevent these secondary health conditions or reduce their negative impact.

Scoping review of common secondary conditions after stroke and their associations with age and time post stroke.

BACKGROUND: Health care providers need to be alert to secondary conditions that might develop after stroke so that these conditions can be prevented or treated early to reduce further deterioration of health and quality of life. OBJECTIVES: To review and describe the prevalence of secondary conditions after stroke and to summarize associations between secondary conditions and age and time post stroke. METHODS: A scoping review of studies pertaining to secondary conditions after stroke published between 1986 and 2011 was conducted. RESULTS: Seventy-six articles provided information regarding 6 secondary conditions: depression, pain, falls, fatigue, bowel/bladder problems, and sleep difficulties. Prevalence varied widely across studies for each condition. The limited repeated-measures evidence suggests that secondary conditions tend to occur in the first weeks or months post stroke and may remain relatively stable over time. Other evidence from regression analyses suggests either no significant associations between time post stroke or age or mixed results. Secondary conditions appear to be most commonly associated with severity of impairments. CONCLUSIONS: Health care providers need to be alert to the development of secondary conditions after stroke in individuals as they age as well as in the poststroke time span. Obtaining a clear understanding of the prevalence of secondary conditions and associations with age and time post stroke is difficult because of variations in research methodologies. Future research is needed to define secondary condition prevalence and risk factors more clearly and to identify interventions that could reduce the prevalence and impact of these conditions on quality of life.

Associations between laryngeal and cough dysfunction in motor neuron disease with bulbar involvement.

True vocal fold (TVF) dysfunction may lead to cough ineffectiveness. In individuals with motor neuron disease (MND), cough impairment in the context of dysphagia increases risk for aspiration and respiratory failure. This study characterizes differences and associations between TVF kinematics and airflow during cough in individuals with bulbar MND. Sequential glottal angles associated with TVF movements during volitional cough were analyzed from laryngeal video endoscopy examinations of adults with bulbar MND (n = 12) and healthy controls (n = 12) and compared with simultaneously collected cough-related airflow measures. Significant group differences were observed with airflow and TVF measures: volume acceleration (p ≤ 0.001) and post-compression abduction TVF angle average velocity (p = 0.002) were lower and expiratory phase rise time (p = 0.001) was higher in the MND group. Reductions in maximum TVF angle during post-compression abduction in the MND group approached significance (p = 0.09). All subjects demonstrated complete TVF and supraglottic closure during the compression phase of cough, except for incomplete supraglottic closure in 2/12 MND participants. A strong positive relationship between post-compression maximum TVF abduction angle and peak expiratory cough flow was observed in the MND group, though it was not statistically significant (r = 0.55; p = 0.098). Reductions in the speed and extent of TVF abduction are seen during the expulsion phase of cough in individuals with MND. This may contribute to cough impairment and morbidity.

Communicative participation restrictions in multiple sclerosis: associated variables and correlation with social functioning.

UNLABELLED: Individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) are at risk for communication problems that may restrict their ability to take participation in important life roles such as maintenance of relationships, work, or household management. The aim of this project is to examine selected demographic and symptom-related variables that may contribute to participation restrictions. This examination is intended to aid clinicians in predicting who might be at risk for such restrictions and what variables may be targeted in interventions. Community-dwelling adults with MS (n=216) completed a survey either online or using paper forms. The survey included the 46-item version of the Communicative Participation Item Bank, demographics (age, sex, living situation, employment status, education, and time since onset of diagnosis of MS), and self-reported symptom-related variables (physical activity, emotional problems, fatigue, pain, speech severity, and cognitive/communication skills). In order to identify predictors of restrictions in communicative participation, these variables were entered into a backwards stepwise multiple linear regression analysis. Five variables (cognitive/communication skills, speech severity, speech usage, physical activity, and education) were statistically significant predictors of communication participation. In order to examine the relationship of communicative participation and social role variables, bivariate Spearman correlations were conducted. Results suggest only a fair to moderate relationship between communicative participation and measures of social roles. Communicative participation is a complex construct associated with a number of self-reported variables. Clinicians should be alert to risk factors for reduced communicative participation including reduced cognitive and speech skills, lower levels of speech usage, limitations in physical activities and higher levels of education. LEARNING OUTCOMES: The reader will be able to: (a) describe the factors that may restrict participation in individuals with multiple sclerosis; (b) list measures of social functioning that may be pertinent in adults with multiple sclerosis; (c) discuss factors that can be used to predict communicative participation in multiple sclerosis.

Social support, depression, and physical disability: age and diagnostic group effects.

BACKGROUND: Social support is an important resource that may benefit individuals aging with physical disabilities, although its effects may vary depending on age, sex, and type of disability. OBJECTIVES: To (1) examine differences in social support--and how support might vary as a function of age and sex--in samples of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), spinal cord injury (SCI), and muscular dystrophy (MD) and (2) understand the extent that associations between different support domains and depression might be moderated by disability diagnosis, sex and age. METHODS: A convenience sample (N = 1416) of individuals with MS, SCI, and MD completed surveys that included measures of perceived social support and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: No significant support differences were found between diagnostic groups. There was a gradual decrease in social support with chronological age, and women reported more support than men, particularly friend support. Levels of perceived friend support were negatively associated with depression, and the associations between social support and depression did not differ as a function of age, sex, or diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Social support is similarly associated with lower levels of depression for men and women, across disability diagnoses and all ages. Being a man and being older may be associated with lower levels of perceived support. Research is needed to determine if interventions that improve support will decrease depression and improve quality of life in persons with disabilities, particularly for men and individuals who are aging.

Communicative participation and quality of life in head and neck cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine how a new self-report outcome measure of communicative participation, the Communicative Participation Item Bank (CPIB), related to disease- and discipline-specific quality of life (QOL) outcomes in a head and neck cancer (HNC) population. METHODS: One hundred ninety-five individuals treated for HNC completed the CPIB, the University of Washington Quality of Life questionnaire (UW-QOL), and the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10). RESULTS: Results revealed moderate QOL scores across the UW-QOL (mean scores: global QOL = 66; physical subscale = 70; social-emotional subscale = 73) and VHI-10 (mean = 16). Correlations between the CPIB and the UW-QOL scores were statistically significant (P < .001) but relatively weak (r = .37-.38). As hypothesized, a stronger correlation was found between the CPIB and the VHI-10 (r = -0.79; P < .001). CONCLUSION: Clinicians may consider adopting the CPIB to complement existing tools in assessing communication outcomes after HNC.