First Advisor

Rhea Paul

Date of Publication

3-19-1997

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.) in Speech and Hearing Sciences

Department

Speech Communication

Language

English

Subjects

Laryngectomees -- Rehabilitation, Speech, Alaryngeal

DOI

10.15760/etd.7254

Physical Description

1 online resource, (98p.)

Abstract

This research sought to examine the level of psychosocial adjustment in a sample of laryngectomees by describing demographic characteristics, alcohol consumption, and tobacco use pre-cancer diagnosis and currently, satisfaction with voice, and by examining the relationship between each subject's level of psychosocial adjustment and lifestyle change, i.e. cessation of tobacco and/or alcohol consumption, and satisfaction with voice.

Twenty-one subjects completed (a) Demographic Questionnaire, (b) Lifestyle Questionnaire, (c) Satisfaction with Voice Scale, and (d) Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale-Self Report (PAIS-SR). Descriptive and inferential statistics were completed.

The average age of the subject group (16 males, 5 females) was 72.5 years, by far the oldest group of laryngectomees studied up to this point. Average time post-onset of laryngectomy was 14 years. Ten subjects (48%) used esophageal speech, 8 (38%) used artificial larynx; and 5 (24%) used tracheoesophageal devices. Eighty-six percent of the subjects reported laryngectomy support group membership. Eighty-one percent of subjects described current health status as "good" or "very good." Ninety-five percent of subjects 2 reported having smoked pre-cancer diagnosis for an average of 41.25 years. Eighteen subjects (90 % ) reported smoking one or more packs of cigarettes daily. Twenty subjects (95%) reported alcohol consumption pre-cancer diagnosis, with 10 males (67%) and 4 females (80%) consuming alcohol daily. Self-report indicated partial lifestyle change following laryngectomy surgery. Ninety-five percent of the subjects had ceased smoking. One male subject reported one-half to one pack of cigarettes current daily consumption. Thirty-eight percent of subjects (8 males) reported current daily alcohol consumption averaging two to three units. Female subjects reported virtual cessation of alcohol consumption since laryngectomy. Results of the PAIS-SR were questionable; 5 subjects failed to answer a sufficient number of questions. Cautious analysis of the results suggests that 71 % of subjects were "well-adjusted" and 29 % "poorly adjusted." T-tests and a correlation coefficient were used to analyze the data. Significant differences were found between the scores of the "well-adjusted" group and the "poorly adjusted group." The relationship between level of adjustment and cessation of drinking/smoking as well as the relationship between level of adjustment and degree of satisfaction with voice were not significant.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Comments

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Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/30879

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