Use of the G8 Geriatric Screening Tool in Surgical Head and Neck Cancer Patients Requiring Rehabilitation: A Multisite Investigation.

Objectives: The G8 is a well-validated screening test for older cancer patients. The current study was undertaken to determine whether the G8 is predictive of short-term post-operative outcomes after head and neck cancer (HNC) surgery.

Methods: Consecutive patients aged 65 years or more and referred for a preoperative assessment by a speech-language pathologist were consecutively screened by clinicians at 2 academic medical centers using the G8.

The Association Between Dysphagia Symptoms, DIGEST Scores, and Severity Ratings in Individuals with Parkinson's Disease.

The Swallow Disturbance Questionnaire (SDQ) is a screening tool developed to identify patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) in need of objective swallowing evaluation. In a previous investigation, the SDQ did not predict abnormal airway protection on a videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS). This investigation was undertaken to determine whether SDQ scores were more accurate when a global measure was used.

Longitudinal Voice Outcomes and Neoglottic Function After Supracricoid Partial Laryngectomy: The Development of a New Scale.

Objectives: Supracricoid partial laryngectomy (SCPL) is an oncologically sound alternative to total laryngectomy that results in long-term alterations in vocal function. Little is known about long-term improvements in dysphonia and the mechanism of vocal recovery is unclear due to the lack of a standardized rating tool: The Pattern, Degree, and Vibration (PDV) Scale.

Methods: Data from 24 individuals were compared over 3 post-operative timepoints after SCPL: 3 to 11, 12 to 35, and over 35 months.

Extreme Sawtooth-Sign in Motor Neuron Disease (MND) suggests Laryngeal Resistance to Forced Expiratory Airflow.

Objective: The impact of laryngeal dysfunction on airflow has not been well characterized in motor neuron disease (MND). This study aimed to detect and characterize extreme airflow oscillations informally observed during volitional cough and forced vital capacity (FVC) tasks in individuals with MND who demonstrated neurolaryngeal impairments including reduced speed and extent of vocal fold abduction compared to healthy controls during volitional cough expulsion. The extreme airflow oscillations in the MND group, when viewed as a flow-volume loop, appeared similar to the "sawtooth-sign.

Characteristics associated with communicative participation after total laryngectomy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify individual characteristics that are associated with communicative participation after total laryngectomy (TL).

Methods: This study was a single-institution investigation of individuals who had undergone TL. Data were collected at a single timepoint via patient self-report and medical record review.