Acoustic analysis of tracheo-oesophageal voice in male total laryngectomy patients.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to test the null hypothesis that voice parameters of post-laryngectomy patients using tracheo-oesophageal (TO) prosthetic valves are similar to those of normal laryngeal subjects. METHODS: Thirty total laryngectomy patients and thirty normal controls were subjected to acoustic analysis of single voice recordings using a sustained vowel. Acoustic parameters including fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, harmonics-to-noise ratio and maximum phonation time were analysed. RESULTS: Poorer values were found as well as larger variability for all the voice parameters for the total laryngectomy patients using TO voice compared with those of normal subjects. There were statistically significant differences (p<0.05) for all studied parameters between the TO and normal speech. CONCLUSIONS: Alaryngeal speech with TO voice prosthesis is not yet comparable to laryngeal speech.

A brief review of voice restoration following total laryngectomy.

Despite advances in conservative laryngeal surgery and radiotherapy, total laryngectomy still remains the procedure of choice for advanced-stage (UICC T3 and T4) laryngeal carcinoma, around the world. The functional rehabilitation of the laryngectomized patients has been a concern of head and neck surgeons and speech therapists. Significant developments in speech rehabilitation over the past three decades have led to substantial improvements in the quality of life of these patients. The tracheoesophageal (TE) voice prosthesis has become the gold standard in various centers for voice rehabilitation since its introduction in 1980. Successful tracheoesophageal voice restoration in laryngectomy patients can be very rewarding and patients no longer have to live in silence while they await the results of their cancer treatments. They can face the challenges of life with the knowledge that a near normal quality of life is very much possible.In this article, we present a brief review of voice restoration following laryngectomy.