Background. To employ patient-reported speech outcome data collected on head and neck cancer (HNC) surveys, there is a need to determine (1) the relationship of patient ratings to speech language pathologist (SLP) ratings and (2) whether patients' attitudes toward their speech are an important element of speech measurements.
Methods. Associations were analyzed between (1) patients' ratings of speech function on surveys and equivalent SLP ratings and (2) patients' ratings of speech function and their satisfaction with speech function.
Results. Patient-reported survey ratings were significantly associated with comparable SLP ratings. The associations were stronger for intelligibility than for voice quality. Patients' functional and attitudinal ratings were also significantly associated. The associations were relatively strong for composite speech items and intelligibility and moderate for voice quality.
Conclusions. Patient-reported speech outcomes can be interpreted as being fairly equivalent to SLP evaluations. Attitudinal ratings appear to contribute an important aspect of the patients' perspective, with substantially different variances between function and attitude.