Effect of Oral Somatosensory Training on Oral Somatosensory Dysfunction in Head and Neck Cancer Survivors

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of an oral somatosensory training (OST) program on oral somatosensory dysfunction (OSD) in neck and head cancer survivors.

One hundred and eight people with altered tastes were enrolled in this research based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and were randomized into groups A and B. Group A received conventional exercises whereas group B received OST. Focal sensations, subjective total taste acuity (STTA), objective taste test, range of motion (ROM), manual muscle testing (MMT), and MD Anderson Symptom Inventory-Head and Neck module (MDASI-HN) questionnaire were employed as outcome measures. To validate the outcomes, pre- and post-assessments of the above measures were conducted. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS statistical software (version 26.0).

The results showed significant improvement in temperature (p= 0.0037, 0.0099, 0.0007, 0.0006), two-point discrimination (p<0.0001, 0.0010, 0.0112), light touch sensation (p<0.0001, 0.0006, 0.0055), STTA and ROM (p<0.0001), MMT scores depressors, elevators, retractors and lateral deviation and protrusion (p<0.0001) of patients undergoing OST as compared to conventional training. Also, the MDASI-HN questionnaire revealed the five most severe items in Group B being dry mouth, food taste problems, difficulty swallowing, mucus problems, and choking, and showed a significant decrease in the mean difference from 4.33±0.77, 8.4±0.40, 6.20±0.62, 5.92±0.69, 2.31±0.46 to 2.38±049, 3.09±0.44, 2.61±0.49, 2.48±0.50, and 0.27±0.45 as compared to Group A.

The study concluded that OST program had shown a significant effect in improving OSD among head and neck cancer survivors.