Effects of voice rehabilitation after radiotherapy for laryngeal cancer: a longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to investigate the effects of voice rehabilitation on health-related quality of life (HRQL) and voice function in patients treated for laryngeal cancer six months post-rehabilitation completion. A secondary aim was to identify factors that predict significant communication improvement.

STUDY DESIGN: Longitudinal follow-up of randomised controlled trial.

METHODS: In total, 33 patients received voice rehabilitation post-radiotherapy and 32 patients constituted the control group. Outcome measures included patient-reported HRQL, communication and voice function (acoustic measures and perceptual analysis). Outcome measures were analysed one (baseline), six and 12 months post-radiotherapy, where voice rehabilitation was conducted between the first two time-points.

RESULTS: Patients improved after voice rehabilitation with regard to communication function and HRQL and remained unchanged after 12 months post-radiotherapy. A significant roughness deterioration in the control group occurred between six and 12 months post-radiotherapy, yet remained unchanged in the intervention group. A factors increasing odds of significant communication improvement 12 months post-radiotherapy was voice rehabilitation. Smoking affected communication negatively.

CONCLUSION: Voice rehabilitation appears to have positive effect on voice function and HRQL, which persist up to 12 months of follow-up and appears to prevent deterioration of perceived roughness. Patients who experience voice and communication problems at baseline are most likely to benefit from voice rehabilitation.