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How can patients who have had their larynx removed make themselves understood again?
This is a very important question to all of those concerned, and it is important to remember in what way the voice was produced before the operation. Speech comprises three separate components: the flow of air from the lungs, the creation of sound by the vocal folds, which are caused to vibrate by the expired air, and phonation, i.e., modification of the tone by the accessory organs of speech (lips, teeth, tongue, and palate). The vocal folds form part of the larynx, but are also removed by the operation. This means that the natural voice is lost. However, the other organs of speech, by which our speech is formed, remain intact. The patient can therefore almost always speak without problems through pseudo whispering.
The removal of the larynx makes it necessary to separate the air passage from the food passage. The upper end of the air passage ends in the opening in the neck (tracheostoma). This prevents the patient from choking when swallowing food. However, because of this necessary alteration of the anatomy, the outflow of air from the lungs is no longer available for phonation.
Voice production using the electronic SERVOX® speech aids
The SERVOX® speech aids can be used in all cases where natural phonation is no longer possible. It replaces the function of the vocal folds as sound generator. The sound vibrations created by pressing a button are conducted to the oral cavity when the device is placed on a suitable place of the neck. The electronic tone can then be used to generate readily understandable speech by using the accustomed articulatory movements.
The decision to use an electronic speech aid is very personal, but it can be a worthwhile supplement to the body's own replacement voice (oesophageal speech). The way its functions is independent of the physical state of the user: in general it can be quickly learnt and already enables the patient to make himself/herself understood shortly after the operation. Many patients who have another replacement voice in addition to the electronic speech aid – such as by means of a shunt valve – use the SERVOX® speech aids in certain situations characterised by stress or illness, in order to be able to have sufficient security in their ability to communicate.
About Speech Aids
This is a very important question to all of those concerned, and it is important to remember in what way the voice was produced before the operation. Speech comprises three separate components: the flow of air from the lungs, the creation of sound by the vocal folds, which are caused to vibrate by the expired air, and phonation, i.e., modification of the tone by the accessory organs of speech (lips, teeth, tongue, and palate). The vocal folds form part of the larynx, but are also removed by the operation. This means that the natural voice is lost. However, the other organs of speech, by which our speech is formed, remain intact. The patient can therefore almost always speak without problems through pseudo whispering.
The removal of the larynx makes it necessary to separate the air passage from the food passage. The upper end of the air passage ends in the opening in the neck (tracheostoma). This prevents the patient from choking when swallowing food. However, because of this necessary alteration of the anatomy, the outflow of air from the lungs is no longer available for phonation.
Voice production using the electronic SERVOX® speech aids
The SERVOX® speech aids can be used in all cases where natural phonation is no longer possible. It replaces the function of the vocal folds as sound generator. The sound vibrations created by pressing a button are conducted to the oral cavity when the device is placed on a suitable place of the neck. The electronic tone can then be used to generate readily understandable speech by using the accustomed articulatory movements.
The decision to use an electronic speech aid is very personal, but it can be a worthwhile supplement to the body's own replacement voice (oesophageal speech). The way its functions is independent of the physical state of the user: in general it can be quickly learnt and already enables the patient to make himself/herself understood shortly after the operation. Many patients who have another replacement voice in addition to the electronic speech aid – such as by means of a shunt valve – use the SERVOX® speech aids in certain situations characterised by stress or illness, in order to be able to have sufficient security in their ability to communicate.
