Bolt Susan, Baylor Carolyn, Burns Michael, Eadie Tanya
Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Disabil Rehabil. 2020 Apr;42(7):931-939. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2018.1514535. Epub 2018 Nov 19.
Survivors of head and neck cancer have reported difficulties with memory, attention, verbal fluency, and processing speed sometimes persisting years after treatment. Self-perceived cognitive function is an important predictor of communication outcomes in this population. This study explores the lived experience of cognitive changes in survivors of non-nasopharyngeal head and neck cancer and how these changes affect communication in their daily lives. In the phenomenological tradition, five adult survivors of non-nasopharyngeal head and neck cancer participated in individual semi-structured interviews. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, coded, and summarized into themes. Two major themes emerged: (1) ; and (2) . Participants described problems with memory, focus/attention, and task initiation along with slowed processing and language difficulties. These difficulties affected communication at work, socially, and at home. Participants expressed feeling unprepared for the possibility of cognitive changes, not knowing why they were happening or what to do about them. Results of this study have implications for counseling and treatment of individuals with head and neck cancer, as well as advocating for these patients to receive appropriate information and intervention.Implications for rehabilitationSurvivors of non-nasopharyngeal head and neck cancer described experiencing problems with memory and focus/attention along with slowed processing and language difficulties.Study participants generally felt both unprepared for the cognitive changes they experienced and, in many ways, unsupported by healthcare providers and others.Rehabilitation professionals should be aware that cognitive changes following medical treatment for head and neck cancer may affect a patient's ability to learn and follow complex treatment regimens.Rehabilitation professionals can advise and advocate for these patients to receive the appropriate referrals for assessment and treatment of their cognitive symptoms.
头颈癌幸存者报告称，他们在记忆、注意力、语言流畅性和处理速度方面存在困难，有时这些问题在治疗后数年仍会持续。自我认知功能是这一人群沟通结果的重要预测指标。本研究探讨了非鼻咽癌头颈癌幸存者认知变化的生活经历，以及这些变化如何影响他们日常生活中的沟通。在现象学传统中，五名非鼻咽癌头颈癌成年幸存者参与了个人半结构化访谈。访谈进行了录音、转录、编码，并总结成主题。出现了两个主要主题：（1） ；以及（2） 。参与者描述了记忆、注意力集中/注意力、任务启动方面的问题，以及处理速度减慢和语言困难。这些困难影响了他们在工作、社交和家庭中的沟通。参与者表示，他们对认知变化的可能性毫无准备，不知道变化为何发生或该如何应对。本研究结果对头颈癌患者的咨询和治疗具有启示意义，同时也倡导为这些患者提供适当的信息和干预措施。对康复的启示非鼻咽癌头颈癌幸存者描述了他们在记忆、注意力集中/注意力方面存在问题，以及处理速度减慢和语言困难。研究参与者普遍感到，他们对自己经历的认知变化毫无准备，而且在很多方面，医疗保健提供者和其他人也没有提供支持。康复专业人员应该意识到，头颈癌药物治疗后的认知变化可能会影响患者学习和遵循复杂治疗方案的能力。康复专业人员可以为这些患者提供建议，并倡导他们获得适当的转介，以评估和治疗他们的认知症状。
