How do voice restoration methods affect the psychological status of patients after total laryngectomy?
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the relationship between psychological well-being and different voice rehabilitation methods in total laryngectomy patients.


METHODS
The study enrolled 96 patients who underwent total laryngectomy. The patients were divided into three groups according to the voice rehabilitation method used: esophageal speech (24 patients); a tracheoesophageal fistula and Provox 2 voice prosthesis (57 patients); or an electrolarynx (15 patients). The participants were asked to complete the Turkish version of the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) to assess voice problems. They were also asked to complete the Turkish version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The test scores of the three groups were compared statistically.


RESULTS
Patients who used esophageal speech had a mean VHI-10 score of 10.25 ± 3.22 versus 19.42 ± 5.56 and 17.60 ± 1.92 for the tracheoesophageal fistula and Provox 2 and electrolarynx groups respectively, reflecting better perception of their voice. They also had a PSS score of 11.38 ± 3.92, indicating that they felt less stressed in comparison with the tracheoesophageal fistula and Provox 2 and electrolarynx groups, which scored 18.84 ± 5.50 and 16.20 ± 3.49 respectively. The HADS scores of the groups were not different, indicating that the patients' anxiety and depression status did not vary.


CONCLUSION
Patients who used esophageal speech perceived less stress and were less handicapped by their voice.
['Saltürk|Z|Z|', 'Arslanoğlu|A|A|', 'Özdemir|E|E|', 'Yıldırım|G|G|', 'Aydoğdu|İ|İ|', 'Kumral|T L|TL|', 'Berkiten|G|G|', 'Atar|Y|Y|', 'Uyar|Y|Y|']
D015897:Comorbidity D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007825:Laryngectomy D007831:Larynx, Artificial D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D017060:Patient Satisfaction D011247:Pregnancy D015995:Prevalence D013071:Speech, Alaryngeal D013315:Stress, Psychological D016896:Treatment Outcome D014421:Turkey D014832:Voice Disorders
Total laryngectomy Voice rehabilitation Stress Anxiety Depression