Quality of life measurements of speech in the head and neck cancer patientpopulation

Background. To employ patient-reported speech outcome data collected on hea d and neck cancer (HNC) surveys, there is a need to determine (1) the relat ionship of patient ratings to speech language pathologist (SLP) ratings and (2) whether patients' attitudes toward their speech are an important eleme nt of speech measurements. Methods. Associations were analyzed between (1) patients' ratings of speech function on surveys and equivalent SLP ratings and (2) patients' ratings o f speech function and their satisfaction with speech function. Results. Patient-reported survey ratings were significantly associated with comparable SLP ratings. The associations were stronger for intelligibility than for voice quality. Patients' functional and attitudinal ratings were also significantly associated. The associations were relatively strong for composite speech items and intelligibility and moderate for voice quality. Conclusions. Patient-reported speech outcomes can be interpreted as being f airly equivalent to SLP evaluations. Attitudinal ratings appear to contribu te an important aspect of the patients' perspective, with substantially dif ferent variances between function and attitude. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.