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Biofeedback Rehabilitation to Improve Speaking and Eating in Public

NCT03650699 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 34

Last updated 2024-03-20

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Tongue cancer requires resection and reconstruction that can leave patients disabled with respect to speaking and eating. Impairment of tongue function can have significant impact on social interaction and employment. To try and improve speaking and eating in public, the team at the University Health Network is going to use a special device that is designed to help the patient rehabilitate after tongue cancer treatment.

The research part of this study is to use a special mouthpiece or mold that is like a partial plate for upper dentures that will fit on the roof of the mouth. This mold is embedded with 62 sensors that will allow patients to visualize their tongue position during speech. With the help of a speech therapist, patients can learn different tongue positions important speaking and eating. This whole process is called biofeedback. The visualization of the tongue gives the patient the flexibility to practice at home to and learn different tongue positions important to eating and speaking. In addition, the device will provide the speech pathologist with an opportunity for easier and more precise assessment of the patient's progress which can reduce the need for visits to the hospital. The investigators expect the biofeedback training to improve the patient's speaking and eating.

The study hypothesis is that the biofeedback device will improve speech intelligibility, eating in public, speaking in public, and oral intake scores.

Conditions

  • Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Interventions

DEVICE

Electropalatography Biofeedback Training

The study agent is electropalatography (EPG). The LinguaGraph EPG device is a biofeedback technology that creates a digital visualization of tongue function during speech. The visualization is accomplished by a custom made mouthpiece that fits over the hard palate with 62 sensors that capture tongue position. The information from the sensors in the mouthpiece, as well as the audio output, is processed in an EPG Unit that converts the information from mouthpiece to a visual representation on a computer screen. The visual information with respect to tongue position can be used to provide biofeedback training.The computer can be used in the clinic during a patient visit or it can be seen over the internet with the patient at home and the speech and language pathologist at the clinic.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University Health Network, Toronto

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Douglas Chepeha, MD · University Health Network, Toronto

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2018-09-28
Primary Completion
2022-12-01
Completion
2022-12-01

Countries

  • Canada

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT03650699 on ClinicalTrials.gov