Articulatory Adaptation Following Oral Cancer Treatment

Overview

The goal of this longitudinal study is to learn more about the articulatory consequences of surgical oral cancer treatment. The main aims are to study the coordination and development of speech articulation of patients who will undergo surgical treatment for oral cancer longitudinally and whether individual differences in the reliance on auditory or tactile information can predict the success of speech compensatory strategies. Participants will perform multiple speech tasks while motion tracking sensors track the articulatory gestures.

Full Title of Study: “Speech Flexibility in Adulthood Following Oral Cancer Treatment: Acoustic and Kinematic Explorations”

Study Type

• Study Type: Observational
• Study Design
  • Time Perspective: Prospective
• Study Primary Completion Date: August 2024

Interventions

• Other: Electromagnetic Articulography
  • Motion tracking sensors will track articulatory movements of the tongue, jaw and lips

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

• Individuals treated for oral cancer
  • Dutch native speakers (18+) who will undergo surgical treatment for a T1 or T2 tumour on the tongue.
• Control speakers
  • Dutch native speakers (18+) without self-reported speech problems.

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

• Articulatory gestures
  • Time Frame: 2022-2025
  • Articularory movements in three dimensions of the tongue, lips and jaw

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

1. Diagnosed with T1 or T2 tumor in the oral cavity 2. At least 18 years old and able to provide informed consent 3. Native speaker of Dutch 4. Has nog been treated for oral cancer before Exclusion Criteria:

1a. Recurrence of disease (for patients) 1b. Treated for oral cancer (for healthy controls) 2. Speech problems (e.g., stuttering) 3. Problems with sight or hearing that impede reading or understanding instructions. When glasses or a hearing aid resolve these problems, then participants are not excluded. 4. Neurological or psychological disorders (e.g., stroke) 5. Non-removable metal in, on or around the head (piercings, braces, pacemaker, electrodes) 6. Self-reported signs of depression

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 18 Years

Maximum Age: N/A

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Investigator Details

• Lead Sponsor
  • University Medical Center Groningen
• Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
  • Sponsor
• Overall Contact(s)
  • Thomas Tienkamp, MA, +31 50 36 37051, t.b.tienkamp@umcg.nl