Speech therapy rehabilitation.

The speech therapy rehabilitation programme starts with diagnosis and continues during hospitalisation and after the patient’s discharge. The distance from the rehabilitation centre can be an unfavourable element for the correct application of the whole protocol and the achievement of optimal functional results, particularly from a vocal point of view. Psychological support is important for controlling and respecting the anxiety and depression that arises following the diagnosis of a tumour. It is, therefore, essential that the speech therapist is able to meet the patient before the procedure in order to establish that relationship of trust which is fundamental for rehabilitation programme compliance. During the pre-operative meeting, the speech therapist will explain to the patient the functional issues connected with the procedure and the re-education strategies used to restore compromised function. Adequate post-surgical rehabilitation is essential for all functional cancer surgery that, with the exclusion of cordectomies, in which it is conducted on a purely outpatient basis, involves a phase during hospitalisation and a subsequent post-discharge, outpatient or day hospital, phase.