Current practices in the counseling of the laryngectomy patient

While laryngectomy surgery is increasingly successful, the patient must cope with physical and psychological problems that challenge the individual long after the surgical wounds have healed. To successfully resolve these problems, it is essential that the individual receive accurate and timely counseling by professional workers involved in all phases of the rehabilitative process. Previous studies have found that in many instances the laryngectomy patient is uninformed of consequent physiological changes and, as a result, is unprepared to encounter a physical and psychological reality that has abruptly changed. The present study examines the pre- and postoperative counseling experience of 115 recent laryngectomees. Respondents were from varied locations within the United States. Survey results indicate that, while counseling of laryngectomy patients is usually informative and comprehensive, this vital aspect of the rehabilitative process is often inadequate to meet the needs of the individual. Remedial measures are suggested.