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Background: Several conditions and diseases can result in speech problems that can have a negative impact on everyday functioning, referred to as communicative participation. Subjective problems with acquired speech problems are often assessed with the speech handicap index (SHI). To assess generic participation problems, the Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation--Participation (USER-P) questionnaire is frequently used. The English questionnaire Communicative Participation Item Bank--short form (CPIB short form) is a 10-item valid, reliable instrument that assesses communicative participation. In the absence of a Dutch equivalent, translation and validation of the CPIB short form was required. Aims: To translate the CPIB short form into Dutch, and to determine its psychometric properties for the group of adults with speech problems resulting from a neurological aetiology or head and neck cancer. Methods & Procedures: Translation of the CPIB short form was performed following the instructions of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment for Cancer (EORTC). In a cross-sectional multi-centre study, participants completed the Dutch CPIB short form together with the SHI and USER-P, and the CPIB a second time after 2 weeks. We assessed internal consistency and test--retest reliability of the CPIB. Construct validity was assessed based on correlations with SHI, USER-P and speech assessments. Outcomes & Results: In the validation study, 122 participants were included: 51 with dysarthria due to different neurological disorders, 48 with speech problems due to head and neck cancer treatment and 23 healthy controls. Internal consistency of the items was high (Cronbach's alpha = 0.962), the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for test-retest reliability was high 0.908 (95% CI = 0.870-0.935). Construct validity was supported by a strong correlation between the Dutch CPIB short form and the SHI total score (SHI total r[subscript s] = 0.887) and a moderate correlation between the Dutch CPIB-10 and the USER-P subscales (USER-P Frequency r[subscript s] = 0.365; USER-P restrictions and USER-P satisfaction r[subscript s] = 0.546). A moderate correlation was found between the Dutch CPIB-10 and the speech performance assessments (degree of distortedness r = -0.0557; p [less than or equal to] 0.001; degree of intelligibility r = 0.0562). Conclusions & Implications: The Dutch CPIB short form provides a valid and reliable tool for clinical practice and research purposes. It allows clinicians to start using this PROM in clinical and research practice to systematically investigate the impact of the speech problems on communicative participation in a Dutch-speaking population.

Background: Physical and psychosocial challenges are common after total laryngectomy. The surgery leads to lifelong changes in communication, airway, swallowing and appearance. As we move towards health models driven by patient-centred care, understanding the differential impacts of surgical procedures on subgroups of patients can help improve our care models, patient education and support systems. This paper discusses the experiences of women following total laryngectomy. Aims: To gain an insight into the impact of total laryngectomy on women's daily life while identifying their specific rehabilitation needs. Methods & Procedures: This paper is based on in-depth, semi-structured interviews with eight women who had undergone total laryngectomy. These interviews were conducted with women at least 1 year after they had undergone total laryngectomy, and the participants did not have recurrent disease. Using an interview guide, participants were encouraged to discuss their everyday experiences, while also focusing on issues typical to women. The transcribed interview data were analysed by thematic analysis, taking interpretative phenomenological analysis as a lead. Outcomes & Results: The interviews revealed three main themes: disease and treatment as a turning point, re-establishing meaningful everyday activities, and persistent vulnerability. Participants reported experiencing challenges in their rehabilitation process due to physical disabilities, dependency on others and experienced stigma. Women-specific challenges arose in dealing with the altered appearance and voice, performing care activities, and the spousal relationship (including intimacy). Conclusions & Implications: Women who undergo total laryngectomy are likely to experience issues in returning to work, the performance of informal care-work, the spousal relationship, intimacy and social interaction due to stigmatization. Medical pretreatment counselling and multidisciplinary rehabilitation programmes should help patients form realistic expectations and prepare them for the changes they will face. A gender- and age-matched laryngectomized patient visitor can contribute to this process. Rehabilitation programmes should incorporate the partner and offer psychosocial support for women following total laryngectomy to return to their former roles in family life, social life and work-related activities.

Background: Esophageal speech (ES), tracheoesophageal speech (TES) and/or electrolarynx speech (ELS) are three speech rehabilitation methods which are commonly provided after total laryngectomy (TL). Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted to evaluate comparative acoustic, perceptual, and patient-reported outcomes for ES, TES, ELS and healthy speakers. Results: Twenty-six articles could be included. In most studies, methodological quality was low. It is likely that an inclusion bias exists, many studies only included exceptional speakers. Significant better outcomes are reported for TES compared to ES for the acoustic parameters, fundamental frequency, maximum phonation time and intensity. Perceptually, TES is rated with a significant better voice quality and intelligibility than ES and ELS. None of the speech rehabilitation groups reported clearly better outcomes in patient-reported outcomes. Conclusions: Studies on speech outcomes after TL are flawed in design and represent weak levels of evidence. There is an urge for standardized measurement tools for evaluations of substitute voice speakers. TES is the favorable speech rehabilitation method according to acoustic and perceptual outcomes. All speaker groups after TL report a degree of voice handicap. Knowledge of caretakers and differences in health care and insurance systems play a role in the speech rehabilitation options that can be offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated with cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy (CRT) frequently experience irreversible sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Patients with low lumbar skeletal muscle index (LSMI) may experience higher serum peak dosages of cisplatin. This study investigated whether pre-treatment low LSMI is associated with increased SNHL upon cisplatin-based CRT., Materials and Methods: LSMI was assessed using routine pre-treatment CT scans. Pure tone audiometry was performed at baseline and at follow-up to assess treatment-related SNHL. Linear mixed models were used to reveal a potential association between the continuous variable LSMI and SNHL., Results: This retrospective cohort study included 81 patients and found a significant association between low LSMI and increased treatment-related SNHL at pure tone frequencies vital for the perception of speech (averaged of 1, 2, and 4 kHz) (p = 0.048)., Conclusions: HNSCC patients with low LSMI suffer increased treatment-related SNHL upon cisplatin-based CRT., (© 2024 The Author(s). Head & Neck published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: Total laryngectomy (TL) leads to lifelong physical changes which can lead to functional and participation issues. To assess the relationship between self-reported quality of life and functional and participation issues, a large international online questionnaire was used., Method: A questionnaire was sent out to 8119 recipients of whom 1705 (21%) responded. The questionnaire consisted of 26 questions regarding demographic information, product use of the respondents, experienced overall health and independence, and functional and participation issues. Respondents were grouped based on sex, age, time since TL, educational level, and country of residence. Questions were grouped in one measure of reported quality of life (r-QoL) and seven issue themes ("esthetic issues," "experienced limitations in daily activities," "avoiding social activities," "communication issues," "experienced vulnerability due to environmental factors," "pulmonary issues," and "sleep issues") to assess the underlying relations., Results: This study showed that more functional and participation issues and a lower r-QoL are reported in the group of younger respondents (<60 years), women, and respondents who have had the TL procedure less than 2 years ago. The issue themes "experienced limitations in daily activities" and "avoiding social activities" are related to r-QoL. Most participants report "pulmonary issues," and these issues have a strong correlation with most other themes., Conclusion: The ability to participate in meaningful and social activities is a major factor in r-QoL. Due to the frequency and strong correlations of pulmonary issues with other issue themes, pulmonary issues might be an underlying cause of many other issues., Level of Evidence: 3b., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2020 The Authors. Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The Triological Society.)