title: Swallowing and speech therapy after definitive treatment for laryngeal cancer.
abstract: As the trend in laryngeal cancer treatment shifts towards organ-conservation surgeries and organ-preservation protocols, patients will more often retain anatomy vital to communication and swallowing. Despite a conservative approach, results of treatment may have debilitating effects. Rehabilitation efforts are directed towards a return to functional, if not normal, status. Although there are predictable trends in voice and swallowing disorders of patients with laryngeal cancer, posttreatment dysphonia and dysphagia are diverse in presentation. Considering the significant diversity of this population, speech pathologists should work closely with otolaryngologists to determine the most appropriate treatment for each patient. As this article demonstrates, voice and swallowing therapy are necessary components of the rehabilitation process following treatment for head and neck cancers. As always, treatment is tailored to the specific individual and based on information obtained during a thorough evaluation by a speech pathologist. Fortunately, with the help of voice and swallowing therapy, many patients return to functional communication and oral feeding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center, Room 6011, 601 North Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. rsmalan@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Robin A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Samlan
authors.forename: Kimberly T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Webster
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D007831:Larynx, Artificial; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D013072:Speech, Esophageal / Q000379:methods; D014831:Voice / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D014834:Voice Training
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents