Recovery of tongue function for speech and swallowing in partial glossectomy patients

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Abstract
Most previous research on glossectomy speech has been cross sectional—patients were tested at only one point in time, usually several months or years post surgery. This study of oral cancer patients was designed to provide insight into the development of compensatory articulation and swallowing patterns in the early post surgery and subsequent radiation therapy period. Synchronized videofluoroscopic and acoustical recordings of speech and swallowing were made at specified times during and after cancer treatment. Tongue mobility relative to the jaw was greater post radiation treatment compared to post surgery. Expected co-articulatory variation in second formant frequency of vowels, as a function of consonant context, did not reappear until 6 months post treatment. Tongue activity for the oral phase of swallowing showed similar recovery of differential patterns related to bolus volume. Data on rule-governed subtleties of tongue activity related to details of the speech or swallowing context provide a sensitive measure of reestablishment of naturalness in tongue function.

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