Background: We sought to define the cognitive domains that influence valved speech rehabilitation.
Methods: Sixteen laryngectomees with primary tracheoesophageal punctures were randomly recruited from one head and neck unit. They were assessed by a consultant neuropsychologist and a speech therapist. Speech therapy time was determined from speech therapy notes.
Results: The Digit Symbol Substitution Test, assessing learning speed and processing speed, correlated significantly with speech therapy time in the first (p = .002) and third (p = .014) postoperative years, respectively. Categorical fluency assessment correlated positively with speech therapy time in the first year (p = .009). Learning speed (p = .007) and categorical fluency (p = .041) correlated positively with the fall in speech therapy input between the first and third year after laryngectomy.
Conclusions: Learning speed, processing speed, and categorical fluency strongly influence alaryngeal speech rehabilitation. This study highlights the potential for pre-laryngectomy cognitive assessment to help plan alaryngeal speech rehabilitation. This has significant resource implications.
Copyright 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.