PSYCHOLOGIC AND ANAMNESTIC PATTERNS CHARACTERISTIC OF LARYNGECTOMEES; RELATION TO SPEECH REHABILITATION

Abstract

The personal, demographic, and psychologic data of 77 laryngectomees who were both pre-operatively and post-operatively psychologically tested, were analyzed and evaluated to develop information relating to whether There are specific traits or behavioral patterns which differentiate significantly the laryngeal carcinomatous patient from individuals who developed carcinoma of other types or in other loci? Differentiating characteristics can be found that are sufficiently specific to provide etiologic and prognostic data? The laryngectomy itself constitutes an emotional trauma? Personal adjustmental factors aid or hinder the learning of esophageal speech? Further, these individuals were evaluated with respect to their progress in learning esophageal speech. The study indicated that the laryngectomee pre-operatively can be differentiated in the above mentioned parameters from other groups. Further, it was determined that the efficacy of esophageal speech instruction was directly related to these various traits. On the other hand, there was no marked emotional trauma other than post-operative shock resulting from the surgical intervention.