title: Effective rehabilitation after partial glossectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The surgical treatment of cancer of tongue results in speech deficits. Speech disorders in the glossectomised patients fall into, categories of impaired articulation, reduced speech intelligibility, altered oral & nasal resonance, impaired voice quality & reductions in global speech proficiency. Since speech is a social tool, its most significant measurements start with the degree to which it can be understood.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India, An incidental sample of 25 patients was selected for this study. Different questionnaires specially devised for this study were used to assess patients' speech & deglutition post-operatively. The data was collected 3 months after surgery of these patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Studies have indicated that larger the segment of the tongue, the greater is the distortion of speech & difficulty in deglutition. All functions associated with the interaction of the tongue with the related anatomy of the head & neck were severely impaired following glossectomy. The rehabilitation plan for partial glossectomy patients depended upon the assessment of their post-operative articulation level, education, job, age, family & motivation.
authors.affiliation: Tata Memorial Hospital, Dr. Borges Road, Parel, 400012 Mumbai, Maharashtra India.
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Bachher
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dholam
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Pai
keywords: Articulation; Deglutition; Glossectomy