Relationship between quality of life instruments and phonatory function in tracheoesophageal speech with voice prosthesis.
BACKGROUND
The use of tracheoesophageal speech with voice prosthesis (T-E speech) after total laryngectomy has increased recently as a method of vocalization following laryngeal cancer. Previous research has not investigated the relationship between quality of life (QOL) and phonatory function in those using T-E speech. This study aimed to demonstrate the relationship between phonatory function and both comprehensive health-related QOL and QOL related to speech in people using T-E speech.


METHODS
The subjects of the study were 20 male patients using T-E speech after total laryngectomy. At a visit to our clinic, the subjects underwent a phonatory function test and completed three questionnaires: the MOS 8-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-8), the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10), and the Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) Measure.


RESULTS
A significant correlation was observed between the physical component summary (PCS), a summary score of SF-8, and VHI-10. Additionally, a significant correlation was observed between the SF-8 mental component summary (MCS) and both VHI-10 and VRQOL. Significant correlations were also observed between voice intensity in the phonatory function test and both VHI-10 and V-RQOL. Finally, voice intensity was significantly correlated with the SF-8 PCS.


CONCLUSIONS
QOL questionnaires and phonatory function tests showed that, in people using T-E speech after total laryngectomy, voice intensity was correlated with comprehensive QOL, including physical and mental health. This finding suggests that voice intensity can be used as a performance index for speech rehabilitation.
Division of Medical Education, Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 86 Nishi-cho, Yonago, Tottori, 683-8503, Japan. japan.tottori1001mm@gmail.com.|Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Tottori University, Yonago, Tottori, Japan. japan.tottori1001mm@gmail.com.
Masayuki
M
Miyoshi
Division of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Medicine of Sensory and Motor Organs, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, 86 Nishi-cho, Yonago, Tottori, 683-8503, Japan.
Takahiro
T
Fukuhara
Division of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Medicine of Sensory and Motor Organs, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, 86 Nishi-cho, Yonago, Tottori, 683-8503, Japan.|School of Health Science, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 86 Nishi-cho, Yonago, Tottori, 683-8503, Japan.
Hideyuki
H
Kataoka
School of Health Science, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 86 Nishi-cho, Yonago, Tottori, 683-8503, Japan.|Rehabilitation Division, Tottori University Hospital, Yonago, Tottori, Japan.
Hiroshi
H
Hagino
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D055154:Dysphonia / Q000517:prevention & control; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007831:Larynx, Artificial / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014833:Voice Quality
MOS 8-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-8); Phonatory function; Speech rehabilitation; Total laryngectomy; Tracheoesophageal speech; Voice prosthesis