Volume 42, Number 1, Pages 115–124 January/February 2005 JRRD JRRD Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development Quality of life in male tracheoesophageal (TE) speakers Tanya L. Eadie, PhD; 1* Philip C. Doyle, PhD 2 1 Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA; 2 Voice Production and Perception Laboratory, Doctoral Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada Abstract—For this study, we determined the quality of life (QOL) in individuals who had undergone total laryngectomy (TL) and who used tracheoesophageal (TE) speech as their pri- mary method of postlaryngectomy communication. We also descriptively compared present QOL outcomes with those found in an extension of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Laryngeal Cancer Study. Thirty laryngectomized men with TE speech as their primary mode of communication were recruited for participation in the investigation. Participants completed a general information form as well as the University of Michigan Head and Neck Quality of Life (HNQOL) instru- ment. Results revealed a high level of self-perceived QOL in the domains of communication, eating, pain, and emotion that was empirically better than results found in a previous study involving individuals who had undergone TL and who were treated in VA hospitals. Possible reasons for the improved self- reported QOL among individuals in the present group include use of TE speech for postlaryngectomy communication, a higher level of education, and membership in a support group. The results suggest to us that these factors should be considered in postlaryngectomy care in the veteran population to optimize rehabilitation outcomes. Key words: HNQOL instrument, laryngeal cancer, quality of life scales, rehabilitation, surgical-prosthetic voice restoration, tracheoesophageal speech, veterans. INTRODUCTION Clinical efforts that measure quality of life (QOL) are an important component in evaluating a person’s perfor- mance status relative to a variety of health conditions and requisite medical treatment. QOL is a multidimensional construct that minimally includes broadly defined assess- ments of the physical, psychological, and social domains of functioning. Numerous and often interrelated areas of concern also evolve from these three primary functional domains and may further influence one’s QOL. For example, defining QOL perhaps should be expanded to include social or family roles, pain and chronic treatment- related toxicities, and one’s emotional status, as well as numerous other areas [1–2]. QOL is a highly individual- ized construct defined and/or interpreted within specific functional contexts (i.e., current health status, functional limitations, defined losses and needs, support systems available, etc.). Inclusion of formal and often multifac- eted QOL measures has gained widespread attention in the literature in recent years as a means of documenting treatment outcomes. Support for the use of multifaceted QOL measurement instruments is justified because one’s comprehensive “health” status will change Abbreviations: CT = chemotherapy, HME = humidifier mois- ture exchange, HNQOL = head and neck quality of life, IAL = International Association of Laryngectomees, QOL = quality of life, RT = radiotherapy, TE = tracheoesophageal, TL = total laryngectomy, VA = Department of Veterans Affairs. This material was based on work supported by the Cana- dian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). * Address all correspondence to Tanya L. Eadie, Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington, 1417 NE 42nd St., Seattle, WA 98105; 206-616-2753; fax: 206-543- 1093; email: teadie@u.washington.edu DOI: 10.1682/JRRD.2004.01.0007 115