Acoustic characteristics of tracheoesophageal and oesophageal voice

Abstract

The removal of larynx has lifelong functional, psychological and social consequences on the patient, of which the loss of voice has the greatest impact. Speech rehabilitation is an important part of functional rehabilitation after total laryngectomy. Most commonly used methods for voice restoration are oesophageal (ES) and tracheoesophageal (TES) speech. The aim of the study was to determine the differences between measured voice parameters of ES and TES speech and to determine which one of these two modalities is comparable with normal laryngeal voice. Materials and methods: A retrospective study was performed on 75 subjects at the ENT Department, University Hospital Centre Zagreb. Acoustic parameters of fundamental frequency, intensity, jitter, shimmer and maximum phonation time were analysed using LingWAVES SLP Suite Pro VPR software (WEVOSYS medical technology GmbH – Germany). There were statistically significant differences (p<0.05) on all studied parameters between the ES and TES speakers except for shimmer. Conclusion: Significantly better outcomes are reported for TES compared to ES for all of the measured acoustic parameters. Alaryngeal speech with TO voice prosthesis is not yet comparable to laryngeal speech.

Keywords

• laryngectomy – rehabilitation; speech
• alaryngeal; speech
• esophageal; larynx