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Introduction: A therapeutic option to treat advanced laryngeal cancer is total laryngectomy, resulting in anatomical and functional changes that can affect taste and smell, and quality of life. Objective: To evaluate and compare the quality of life and gustatory and olfactory sensitivities in total laryngectomees, before and after surgery. Methods: The analyzed sample consisted of 20 individuals, with a mean age of 65.7 years, with indication of total laryngectomy to treat laryngeal cancer, who were evaluated before surgery (T1), and 15 individuals were reassessed after surgery (T2). The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), the University of Washington Quality of Life Assessment Questionnaire with 12 domains, three general questions and an open question were applied. For the evaluation of olfactory sensitivity, isopropanol solutions were used at 0.2%, 1%, 3%, 7%, 13%, 20% and the evaluation of gustatory sensitivity was performed with the flavors: sweet, salty, bitter, acidic, umami and neutral. Results: Analyzing the quality of life, a difference was identified in the comparison of the "Palate" domain between T1 and T2 (p = 0.004). There was no difference in the total score of the quality of life questionnaire between participants at T1 and T2 (p = 0.298). When comparing the olfactory threshold, there was no difference between T1 and T2 (p <0.001), and when comparing the total score of the taste sensitivity test between T1 and T2, there was no difference (p = 0.565). Conclusion: The studied sample presented anosmia and hypogeusia after total laryngectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Palliative care is described as an approach that aims to promote quality of life, when facing life-threatening diseases, in order to prevent and relieve suffering. The speech therapist intervenes working with specific skills focused on dysphagia and communication. Objective: To characterize speech therapy in palliative care in a tertiary care institution. Methods: This is a retrospective observational study that analyzed the electronic medical records of patients in palliative care assisted by the speech therapy team in the outpatient clinic of the Palliative Care Group and/or Head and Neck Surgery Service, in the period from 2017 to 2020. The data were consolidated into a single database in an excel spreadsheet. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 20 software. Results: Oncological disease was evidenced in 76.9%. The KPS and PPS values were similar. The stage of palliative care assistance and the level of speech therapy assistance, are corresponding to the degree of functionality. Patients with kps/pps between 90 and 70 received active care, limited treatment was provided to patients with kps/pps between 70 and 50, and comfort and quality of life was provided to patients with functionality from 50 to 30. Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between the degree of functionality (kps/pps) of palliative care stage patients and the level of speech therapy assistance in palliative care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging triggers physiological and anatomical changes in individuals, leading to changes in the voice that we know as presbyphonia. Objective: To correlate the vocal and phonatory aerodynamic parameters of non-sarcopenic elderly women. Methods: 30 elderly women with a mean age of 64.5 years were initially submitted to medical evaluation of sarcopenia and larynx. Vocal intensity, maximum phonation time (MPT) of vowels "a", "i", "u" and fricative consonants "s" and "z" were recorded. The Aerodynamic Phonatory System (APS) Model 6600 (KayPentax®) was used to obtain vital capacity, vocal efficiency and PMT protocols. The results were expressed as measures of central tendency and dispersion and the Person correlation test was performed. A significance value of 0.05 was adopted to establish the presence of correlation. Results: Non-sarcopenic elderly women had a mean maximum phonation time (MPT): 16.4s, s/z ratio: 0.82, usual vocal intensity (61.1dB), weak (52.4dB) and strong (80.3dB). The following parameters showed a good positive correlation (0.5-0.7): expiratory airflow peak and usual intensity (p=<0.01) and there was a moderate negative correlation (0.30-0.50): Minimum of phonatory sound pressure (PSP) and strong intensity (p=0.01) and Phonation time and the S/Z ratio (p=0.01). Conclusion: Non-sarcopenic elderly women have correlated vocal and aerodynamic parameters, especially when they involve air flow and pressure to take advantage of the expiratory volume and consequent impact on the quality of sound production. It allows for a reflection on whether the normative voice values found in the literature for presbyphonia involved only non-sarcopenic, sarcopenic elderly or both. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]