Preregistered protocol for: Articulatory changes in speech following treatment for oral or oropharyngeal cancer: a systematic review

TL;DR

This systematic review protocol aims to analyze studies measuring articulatory movements after oral or oropharyngeal cancer treatment to better understand speech impairments caused by physiological changes.

Contribution

It introduces a pre-registered protocol for systematically reviewing direct measurements of articulatory changes post-cancer treatment.

Findings

Focus on direct articulatory movement data

Addresses gap in understanding speech impairments

Aims to inform future rehabilitation strategies

Abstract

This document outlines a PROSPERO pre-registered protocol for a systematic review regarding articulatory changes in speech following oral or orophayrngeal cancer treatment. Treatment of tumours in the oral cavity may result in physiological changes that could lead to articulatory difficulties. The tongue becomes less mobile due to scar tissue and/or potential (postoperative) radiation therapy. Moreover, tissue loss may create a bypass for airflow or limit constriction possibilities. In order to gain a better understanding of the nature of the speech problems, information regarding the movement of the articulators is needed since perceptual or acoustic information provide only indirect evidence of articulatory changes. Therefore, this systematic review will review studies that directly measured the articulatory movements of the tongue, jaw, and lips following treatment for oral or oropharyngeal cancer.