Rehabilitative Efficacy of Music Speech Training for Speech Disorders in Patients With Tongue Cancers: A Pilot Study

IF 2.5 3区医学 Q2 AUDIOLOGY & SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders Pub Date : 2026-10-08 DOI:10.1111/1460-6984.70341

Kaixin Guo, Chen Chen, Zhentao Lao, Yudong Xiao, Le Yang, Guiqing Liao, Shuo Lu, Peixuan Shi, Yujie Liang

{"title":"Rehabilitative Efficacy of Music Speech Training for Speech Disorders in Patients With Tongue Cancers: A Pilot Study","authors":"Kaixin Guo, Chen Chen, Zhentao Lao, Yudong Xiao, Le Yang, Guiqing Liao, Shuo Lu, Peixuan Shi, Yujie Liang","doi":"10.1111/1460-6984.70341","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Background</h3>\n \n <p>Patients with tongue cancers (TC) often experience speech disorders, necessitating a comprehensive rehabilitation strategy to enhance speech function after the surgery.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Aims</h3>\n \n <p>To investigate the safety and efficacy of music speech training integrated into the postoperative routine speech rehabilitation for patients with TC.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Methods & Procedures</h3>\n \n <p>A pilot cohort study was conducted, where patients in the intervention group (<i>n</i> = 10) were instructed to engage in music speech training twice a week for 4 weeks. Pre- and post-training assessments of speech function were performed, encompassing questionnaires (e.g., Speech Handicap Index, SHI), perceptual evaluations (words and sentences intelligibility), and acoustic analysis of vowels. Adverse events were monitored for safety throughout the process. The control group (<i>n</i> = 10) only underwent tongue strengthening exercise. Speech function assessments for the control group were administered concurrently with those for the intervention group to facilitate comparative analysis of baseline and post-intervention speech performance (SHI, words and sentences intelligibility, vowel space area (VSA) and formant centralization ratio (FCR)).</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Outcomes & Results</h3>\n \n <p>No adverse effects were reported. The study included 20 participants (aged 28–67 years, 12 males). Baseline characteristics showed no significant differences between the intervention and control groups. Statistical analyses revealed significant improvements in speech-related quality of life (s-QoL) (<i>p</i> < 0.05) and speech intelligibility (words: <i>p</i> < 0.001, sentences: <i>p</i> = 0.006) in the intervention group following music speech training. In comparison with the control group, patients in the intervention group demonstrated higher word intelligibility scores after music speech training (68.25±5.37 vs. 52.00±10.93, <i>p</i> = 0.014). Furthermore, the VSA was greater in the intervention group (317488.04 ± 152059.21 vs. 248280.05 ± 126732.80, <i>p</i> = 0.044), indicating a broader range of tongue movement during the same postoperative period compared to the control group.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Conclusions & Implications</h3>\n \n <p>Music speech training demonstrated improvements in speech intelligibility and s-QoL among postoperative patients with TC, offering a promising new approach for postoperative speech rehabilitation.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS</h3>\n \n <div><i>What is already known on this subject</i>\n \n <ul>\n \n <li>Speech disorders (SDs) represent a prevalent complication among postoperative tongue cancer (TC) patients, significantly impairing speech related quality of life (s-QoL). There remains a lack of standardized therapeutic protocols for managing SDs in postoperative TC patients.</li>\n </ul>\n <i>What this paper adds to existing knowledge</i>\n \n <ul>\n \n <li>Music speech training improved word and sentence intelligibility in patients with TC, while improving their s-QoL. This improvement was possibly attributed to the expanded range of tongue motion.</li>\n </ul><i>What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?</i>\n \n <ul>\n \n <li>Current results suggest that music speech training can improve speech function and the s-QoL in patients with TC, providing a new possibility for postoperative speech rehabilitation.</li>\n </ul>\n </div>\n </section>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":49182,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders","volume":"61 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5000,"publicationDate":"2026-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1460-6984.70341","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"AUDIOLOGY & SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Patients with tongue cancers (TC) often experience speech disorders, necessitating a comprehensive rehabilitation strategy to enhance speech function after the surgery.

Aims

To investigate the safety and efficacy of music speech training integrated into the postoperative routine speech rehabilitation for patients with TC.

Methods & Procedures

A pilot cohort study was conducted, where patients in the intervention group (n = 10) were instructed to engage in music speech training twice a week for 4 weeks. Pre- and post-training assessments of speech function were performed, encompassing questionnaires (e.g., Speech Handicap Index, SHI), perceptual evaluations (words and sentences intelligibility), and acoustic analysis of vowels. Adverse events were monitored for safety throughout the process. The control group (n = 10) only underwent tongue strengthening exercise. Speech function assessments for the control group were administered concurrently with those for the intervention group to facilitate comparative analysis of baseline and post-intervention speech performance (SHI, words and sentences intelligibility, vowel space area (VSA) and formant centralization ratio (FCR)).

Outcomes & Results

No adverse effects were reported. The study included 20 participants (aged 28–67 years, 12 males). Baseline characteristics showed no significant differences between the intervention and control groups. Statistical analyses revealed significant improvements in speech-related quality of life (s-QoL) (p < 0.05) and speech intelligibility (words: p < 0.001, sentences: p = 0.006) in the intervention group following music speech training. In comparison with the control group, patients in the intervention group demonstrated higher word intelligibility scores after music speech training (68.25±5.37 vs. 52.00±10.93, p = 0.014). Furthermore, the VSA was greater in the intervention group (317488.04 ± 152059.21 vs. 248280.05 ± 126732.80, p = 0.044), indicating a broader range of tongue movement during the same postoperative period compared to the control group.

Conclusions & Implications

Music speech training demonstrated improvements in speech intelligibility and s-QoL among postoperative patients with TC, offering a promising new approach for postoperative speech rehabilitation.

WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS

What is already known on this subject

Speech disorders (SDs) represent a prevalent complication among postoperative tongue cancer (TC) patients, significantly impairing speech related quality of life (s-QoL). There remains a lack of standardized therapeutic protocols for managing SDs in postoperative TC patients.

What this paper adds to existing knowledge

Music speech training improved word and sentence intelligibility in patients with TC, while improving their s-QoL. This improvement was possibly attributed to the expanded range of tongue motion.

What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?

Current results suggest that music speech training can improve speech function and the s-QoL in patients with TC, providing a new possibility for postoperative speech rehabilitation.

查看原文本刊更多论文

音乐语言训练对舌癌患者语言障碍的康复效果：一项初步研究。

背景：舌癌患者经常出现语言障碍，需要综合康复策略来提高术后语言功能。目的：探讨音乐语言训练与TC术后常规语言康复相结合的安全性和有效性。方法与步骤：采用先导队列研究，干预组（n = 10）患者每周进行2次音乐言语训练，为期4周。对训练前后的语音功能进行评估，包括问卷调查（如言语障碍指数，SHI）、感知评估（单词和句子的可理解性）和元音的声学分析。在整个过程中监测不良事件的安全性。对照组（n = 10）只进行舌强化训练。对照组和干预组的言语功能评估同时进行，以便比较分析基线和干预后的言语表现（SHI、单词和句子的可理解性、元音空间面积（VSA）和形成峰集中化比率（FCR））。结果和结果：无不良反应报告。该研究包括20名参与者（年龄在28-67岁之间，12名男性）。基线特征显示干预组和对照组之间无显著差异。统计分析显示，在音乐语音训练后，干预组的语音相关生活质量（s-QoL）（p < 0.05）和语音可理解性（单词：p < 0.001，句子：p = 0.006）均有显著改善。与对照组相比，干预组患者在音乐语音训练后的单词理解度得分更高（68.25±5.37比52.00±10.93,p = 0.014）。此外，干预组的VSA更大（317488.04±152059.21 vs 248280.05±126732.80,p = 0.044），表明在相同的术后时间内，与对照组相比，舌部运动范围更大。结论与意义：音乐语音训练可改善TC术后患者的语音清晰度和s-QoL，为术后语音康复提供了一种有希望的新途径。本文补充的内容：关于这一主题的已知内容语言障碍（SDs）是舌癌（TC）术后患者中普遍存在的并发症，显著损害语言相关生活质量（s-QoL）。目前仍缺乏标准化的治疗方案来管理术后TC患者的SDs。音乐语音训练提高了TC患者的单词和句子的可理解性，同时改善了患者的s-QoL。这种改善可能归因于舌头运动范围的扩大。这项工作的潜在或实际临床意义是什么？目前的研究结果表明，音乐语音训练可以改善TC患者的语音功能和s-QoL，为术后语音康复提供了新的可能性。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders AUDIOLOGY & SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY-REHABILITATION

CiteScore

3.30

自引率

12.50%

发文量

116

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： The International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders (IJLCD) is the official journal of the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists. The Journal welcomes submissions on all aspects of speech, language, communication disorders and speech and language therapy. It provides a forum for the exchange of information and discussion of issues of clinical or theoretical relevance in the above areas.