Palatal Augmentation Prosthesis in Improving Speech in Patients with TI or TII Tongue Cancers

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. Validate palatal augmentation speech prosthesis training on speech intelligibility and efficiency at the word level at approximately 6 months following resection and reconstruction for tongue cancer.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Validate palatal augmentation speech prosthesis training on speech intelligibility and efficiency at the sentence

level at approximately 6 months following resection and reconstruction for tongue cancer.

II. Determine if there is improvement in patient speech satisfaction with a palatal augmentation speech prosthesis.

III. Define the effect of radiation therapy on speech intelligibility, efficacy and function following resection and reconstruction for tongue cancer.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE:

I. Identify palatal contact patterns and their impact in patients with tongue cancer resection and reconstruction.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 groups.

GROUP I: Following standard of care surgery, patients receive PAP and undergo standard of care articulation therapy.

GROUP II: Following standard of care surgery, patients undergo standard of care articulation therapy.