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Impact of palatal prosthodontic intervention on communication performance of patients' maxillectomy defects: A multilevel outcome study
Author(s) -
Sullivan Marsha,
Gaebler Carol,
Beukelman David,
Mahanna Gordon,
Marshall Julie,
Lydiatt Daniel,
Lydiatt William M.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.10095
Subject(s) - nasality , medicine , dentistry , intelligibility (philosophy) , words per minute , alveolar ridge , orthodontics , audiology , physical therapy , surgery , vowel , speech recognition , computer science , reading (process) , philosophy , epistemology , political science , law , implant
Background Obturators have been developed for surgical defects caused by cancer of the maxillary sinus and alveolar ridge. Outcome research is necessary to develop evidence‐based practice guidelines. Methods Thirty‐two consecutively treated maxillectomy patients seen in the Facial Prosthetics Clinic at UNMC from 1994 through 1996 had their defects obturated for 1 month when speech intelligibility, speaking rate, nasality, and communication effectiveness were measured. Results With the obturator removed, mean speech intelligibility was 61%, speaking rate was 138 words per minute, and nasality was rated as 5.8 on a 0–7 point scale. With the obturator inserted, mean speech intelligibility was 94%, speaking rate was 164 words per minute, and nasality was rated as 1.6. The mean self‐perception of communication effectiveness was 75% of what it was before the diagnosis of cancer. Conclusions Obturation is an effective intervention for defects of the maxillary sinus and alveolar ridge on speech performance. Variations in effectiveness were noted based on site of defect and patient satisfaction with the intervention. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 24: 530–538, 2002