Quality of life in prosthetic voice users.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to measure the efficacy of prosthetic voice restoration for laryngectomees in relation to various quality-of-life parameters.


METHODS
The University of Washington Quality of Life Scale, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Scale, and a demographic data form of our own design were completed by 16 laryngectomees who had undergone prosthetic voice restoration in our private practice by Blom-Singer methodology.


RESULTS
More than 80% of the respondents were positive in their assessment of each category on all three surveys.


CONCLUSIONS
Prosthetic voice restoration in private practice resulted in achieved expectations, satisfaction with speech, and good quality of life as measured by physical, functional, social, and emotional well-being parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Laryngectomees may be offered prosthetic voice restoration with a high likelihood that they will be satisfied.


METHODS
C.
Gerwin
John M
JM
ENT Associates of Alabama, USA. jg812green@aol.com
Culton
Gerald L
GL
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000379:methods*; D007831:Larynx, Artificial / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D014833:Voice Quality