A Qualitative Study on Experiences of Patients with Esophageal Speech Training after Total Laryngectomy

Introduction. Well-established esophageal voice and speech is the most human-like form of communication of laryngectomized patients. Material and Methods. The study sample consisted of 28 patients of the Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, Clinical Center of Vojvodina in Novi Sad. All patients underwent total laryngectomy because of laryngeal cancer previously confirmed. The patients were divided into two groups based on the success of mastering esophageal voice and speech, group 1 being successful and group 2 being unsuccessful. Results. All patients were subjected to total laryngectomy and had their hyoid bone removed (100%). Esophageal speech was rated excellent and good in 71% and 29% of patients from group 1, respectively. There was no significant difference between the successful (group 1) and unsuccessful group (group 2) in time when teaching began (c2 =5.14, p=0.023). Neither was there a statistically significant difference between these two groups regarding the methods applied in teaching esophageal speech (c2 = 2.02, p=0.155, which is greater than 0.05). Conclusion. The effectiveness of teaching esophageal speech depends significantly on the motivation of the patients. It was found that the patients who mastered esophageal speech successfully had been learning it longer than those who did not master it. The success in mastering esophageal speech did not depend on whether the patients were trained individually or collectively, whereas neither method of training was successful in group 2.

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Phonation Using the Tracheo-Esophageal Shunt after Total Laryngectomy

Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders ◽

10.1044/jshd.3803.369 ◽

1973 ◽

Vol 38 (3) ◽

pp. 369-373 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Daniel H. Zwitman ◽

Thomas C. Calcaterra

Keyword(s):

Total Laryngectomy ◽

Gastric Tube ◽

New Method ◽

Alaryngeal Speech ◽

Speech Characteristics ◽

Esophageal Speech

A functional speech mechanism was created during laryngectomy in five patients. The method used involved construction of a shunt between the esophagus inferior to the superior esophageal constrictor and membranous portion of the trachea. Speech produced with the tracheo-esophageal shunt was highly intelligible and is functional after the nasal gastric tube is removed. Speech characteristics resemble closely those of superior esophageal speech. Pitch, intensity, and intelligibility were comparable to superior alaryngeal speech, and cinefluorographic analysis revealed that the pseudoglottis frequently used by esophageal speakers also was used by speakers with tracheo-esophageal shunts. Late stenosis has been the primary disadvantage; a new method to eliminate closure is being investigated. Since the tracheo-esophageal shunt can be used effectively in communication, further patient application and construction modifications are warranted.

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Voice evaluation of myomucosal shunt after total laryngectomy: Comparison with esophageal speech

American Journal of Otolaryngology ◽

10.1016/0196-0709(89)90007-0 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 267-272 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

D. Brasnu ◽

M. Strome ◽

L.Crevier Buchman ◽

M.C. Pfauwadel ◽

M. Menard ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Total Laryngectomy ◽

Esophageal Speech

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137e A Novel Esophageal Speech Retraining Method in Patients With Total Laryngectomy: the Role of Bio-Feedback by Intraesophageal Impedance

Gastroenterology ◽

10.1016/s0016-5085(12)60137-1 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 142 (5) ◽

pp. S-36

Author(s):

Mustafa Sahin ◽

Fatih Ogut ◽

Rukiye Vardar ◽

Erkan Z. Engin ◽

Serhat Bor

Keyword(s):

Total Laryngectomy ◽

Esophageal Speech

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Near-total Laryngectomy: An Oncologically Safe Alternative

International Journal of Phonosurgery & Laryngology ◽

10.5005/jp-journals-10023-1076 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 30-32

Author(s):

Hitesh Verma

Keyword(s):

Surgical Treatment ◽

Treatment Modality ◽

Total Laryngectomy ◽

Voice Rehabilitation ◽

Wide Field ◽

Safe Alternative ◽

Traditional Treatment ◽

Esophageal Speech ◽

Tracheoesophageal Shunt

ABSTRACT Traditional treatment for advanced transglottic laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers is wide field laryngectomy. Patients who undergo wide field laryngectomy must also undergo voice rehabilitation with a prosthesis, electrolarynx or esophageal speech. These are associated with complications, such as bloating of the stomach, stenosis, aspiration and difficulty with hygiene of the TEP prosthesis. Near-total laryngectomy is a surgical treatment modality, where speech is maintained by way of a dynamic myomucosal shunt. It was specially designed to overcome the serious complications of adynamic tracheoesophageal shunt methods. How to cite this article Dass A, Singhal SK, Gupta N, Verma H. Near-total Laryngectomy: An Oncologically Safe Alternative. Int J Phonosurg Laryngol 2014;4(1):30-32.

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