Abstract
The assessment of articulatory function encompasses auditory evaluation, instrumental assessment, and subjective evaluation of the patient. Auditory evaluation encompasses the speech intelligibility test and the 100-syllable Japanese speech intelligibility test. The speech intelligibility test entails rating speech intelligibility on a 5- or 9-point scale. The 100-syllable Japanese speech intelligibility test entails the quantification of correctly heard syllables from a set of 100, expressed as a percentage. Instrumental assessments of articulation encompass palatography, acoustic analysis, and the nasometer. Palatography facilitates the evaluation of both the presence and distribution of tongue and palate contact. Acoustic analysis is a method for appraising articulatory function through the examination of speech sounds using specialized software. The nasometer is an apparatus for assessing hypernasality.
The Speech Handicap Index （SHI） is a self-reported questionnaire aimed at gauging speech-related quality of life. The SHI comprises 30 quality-of-life questions pertaining to speech, self-assessed by the patient on a 5-point scale （0-4）. Presently, the SHI has been translated into numerous languages, including Korean and French. Nonetheless, there is no speech-specific questionnaire tailored to Japanese-speaking patients. These three methodologies have the potential to serve as indicators of treatment and training efficacy within the realm of maxillofacial prosthetic interventions.
