Feasibility of correcting defects in the pronunciation of posterior lingual sounds resulting from oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer surgery

BACKGROUND: Speech dysfunction is noted in patients who have undergone hemiglossectomy or glossectomy for cancer of the oral cavity and oropharynx, including the pronunciation of sounds [k], [k’], [g], and [g’].

AIMS: To evaluate the effectiveness of correction of the pronunciation of posterior lingual sounds in patients with oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers after surgical treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The objective and subjective assessments of speech allowed speech therapists to examine defects in the pronunciation of posterior lingual sounds [k], [k’], [g], and [g’] in patients with oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer who underwent surgery. The effectiveness of correcting defects in the pronunciation of posterior lingual sounds was evaluated considering the extent of surgery. The study included 171 patients with stage II–IV oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers. The age of the patients ranged from 24 to 70 years. The patients underwent hemiglossectomy, hemiglossectomy with reconstruction, or glossectomy with reconstruction. Combined modality treatment and postoperative speech rehabilitation were performed at the Department of Head and Neck Tumors of the Cancer Research Institute.

RESULTS: In all patients before starting the combined treatment, the pronunciation of posterior lingual sounds [k], [k’], [g], and [g’] corresponded to the norms in the Russian language. After surgery, the pronunciation of these sounds was impaired in most patients. In group III (after glossectomy with reconstruction), pronunciation defects were observed in 100% of the cases. The corrective speech therapy included a set of breathing and articulation exercises for the muscles of the cheeks, lips, and tongue using passive motor gymnastics as the basis for activating and coordinating the patient’s articulation apparatus.

CONCLUSION: The presented system of subsequent correction and automation of posterior lingual sounds allowed the correction of the pronunciation of these sounds in most patients.