title: Counseling the head and neck cancer patient: laryngectomy.
abstract: The laryngectomee patient faces many of the same psychological, social and physical problems as the elderly. Many laryngectomees are among the elderly, and their disabilities compound their problems. They are faced with role adjustments associated with retirement and changes in family roles. Counseling for the elderly and for the laryngectomee is equally important for they too have not prepared for their new role in life. Many of the elderly need help adjusting to the crises they face as well as the laryngectomee patient. It would appear from this study that early counseling motivation and positive psychosocial experience strongly influence the desire to communicate, even among the more severely impaired individuals and among the older patients. True, each did not obtain the more desirable method of speech, "esophageal speech", but each was able to communicate orally, along with non-verbal and gesture skills. Those who work with the laryngectomee as well as the elderly should prepare for this important work. More research should be obtained and utilized in each agency that works with this population.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013060:Speech