Changes to speech

The ability to talk can be affected by surgery or radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. This may be because of side effects such as swelling and irritation, because of a tracheostomy or laryngectomy, or because other structures have been removed. You may find it hard to speak clearly or notice that your speech is slurred, or you may find your voice has changed. The extent of any changes will vary depending on the location of the cancer, how advanced it was, and the treatment you had.

Talking will take time and practice – it’s natural to feel distressed, frustrated and angry at times. You will need to get used to the way your new voice sounds. You can use the National Relay Service to help you make phone calls.

How to manage changes to speech

• Try non-verbal ways to communicate – gesture, point, nod, smile, mouth words, write things down or ring a bell to call people.
• Use a computer, tablet, mobile phone or notebook to write and send notes.
• Work with a speech pathologist to improve your speech and learn ways to communicate with family and friends. The speech pathologist may give you some exercises to improve the strength and range of motion of the lips, tongue, jaw and larynx.
• Encourage family and friends to be honest if they don’t understand you and to learn new ways to communicate with you. Ask them not to avoid conversation even if it is difficult at first. They may need to be patient and give you time to respond.
• Speak to a counsellor or psychologist if you are finding it difficult to cope with speech changes.