Speech Intelligibility in Patients with Oral Cancer: An Objective Baseline Evaluation of Pretreatment Function and Impairment

Background: This study seeks to identify those factors that influence the pre-therapeutic speech intelligibility in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Method: A group of 172 patients (125 males, 47 females, mean age = 61 ± 11 a) with different OSCC stages ranging from T1 to T4 and N0 to N2 was examined for their speech intelligibility using a computerized measuring tool, and compared to a healthy reference group (30 males, 10 females, mean age = 59 ± 12 a).

Results: It was found that the pre-therapeutic speech intelligibility in patients with OSCC is decreased when compared to a healthy collective. Two demographic factors that influence speech intelligibility could be identified: sex and age. It was determined that the only disease-related factor that influences speech intelligibility before therapy is the location of the tumor.

Conclusion: The results of this study reveal that a preoperative speech intelligibility impairment in patients suffering from OSCC occurs independent of tumor stage, size of the tumor and infiltration status.