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Speech, Voice, and Swallowing Rehabilitation for Patients with Head and Neck Cancers

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Multidisciplinary Management of Head and Neck Cancer

Abstract

The speech–language pathologist (SLP) plays a pivotal role on the multidisciplinary head and neck cancer care team, providing skilled assessment and treatment of disorders of speech, voice, and swallowing. Inclusion of the SLP from the onset of care may help to educate the treatment team about functional status to assist with decisions regarding the most appropriate oncologic treatment modalities, mitigate functional impairments associated with cancer treatment, and provide the patient and their caregivers with realistic expectations for function across the treatment continuum. In this chapter, we will outline how different treatment approaches may impact speech, voice, and swallowing as well as the SLP’s role in assessing and managing these difficulties.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA

    Heather M. Starmer

  2. Head and Neck Cancer Care Program, Stanford Cancer Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA

    Jocelen Hamilton

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  1. Heather M. Starmer
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  2. Jocelen Hamilton
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Correspondence to Heather M. Starmer .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA

    Ravi A. Chandra

  2. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA

    Ryan J. Li

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Starmer, H.M., Hamilton, J. (2022). Speech, Voice, and Swallowing Rehabilitation for Patients with Head and Neck Cancers. In: Chandra, R.A., Li, R.J. (eds) Multidisciplinary Management of Head and Neck Cancer. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05973-5_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05973-5_14

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