Dysphagia in the framework of post-radiation late after-effect: interest of a speech therapy

We have studied the effects of speech therapy in post-radiation late after-effect. The swallowing disorders of twelve patients that had appeared between three months and sixteen years after radiotherapy were treated by speech therapy. They were evaluated, before and after rehabilitation through self-administered quality of life questionnaires as well as a qualitative assessment of their swallowing function performed by a professional. The results showed an improvement in eleven of them. The questionnaires also reveal a significant impact of speech therapy on their quality of life. Speech therapy remains however a tedious process and shows its limits in the long term. (authors)