Speech considerations in oral surgery. Part I. Speech physiology

Area of Science:

• Physiology
• Speech Science
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Speech production is a complex physiologic process.
• It involves respiration, phonation, and articulation.
• These components are vital for producing intelligible speech sounds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of the physiologic processes of speech production.
• To define the roles of respiration, phonation, and articulation.
• To discuss the necessity of understanding speech dynamics in the context of oral cancer surgery.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of speech physiology.
• Definition of key speech production components.
• Discussion of surgical implications.

Main Results:

• Respiration provides airflow.
• Phonation generates sound via the vocal folds.
• Articulation shapes sound into speech.

Conclusions:

• A comprehensive understanding of speech physiology is essential for surgeons managing oral malignancies.
• Knowledge of speech dynamics aids in planning and executing ablative surgeries to optimize post-operative speech outcomes.