Factors in the Development of Esophageal Speech

Abstract

Patients who undergo laryngectomy lose the facility of phonation. In these patients, compensatory voice may be produced by the use of body structures (ex. esophageal speech or laryngoplasty) or with the help of special aids such as an artificial larynx or an electro-larynx. The majority of patients who go through with voice training after the operation learn to speak with an esophageal type voice. However, it is difficult for these laryngectomized patients to master the esophageal speech which requires extensive training. Those patients who failed to learn this type of substitutive voice may be helped by the use of artificial instruments.We did a statistical study of the compensatory voices and of a few factors in the development of the esophageal speech in the members of KYOTO KOYUKAI (the Society of laryngectomized).The items of the compensatory voice utilized by these alaryngeal members were demonstrated. The esophageal speech was 51% (90 patients) out of 177 patients. A study of factors in the development of the esophageal speech revealed that in those over 70 years of age and in those with a personality such as introversion and neuroticism, it was difficult to master the esophageal speech. However, the surgical procedure of total laryngectomy and whether or not the suture of cricopharyngeal muscle should be done is not directly concerned with the development of esophageal speech.Table 1. COMPENSATORY VOICE IN MEMBERS OF KYOTO KOYUKAIEsophageal speech 79 cases (44.7%)Esophageal speech with artificial larynx 11 (6.3%) 90 cases (51%)Artificial larynx 62 (35.1%)Electrical larynx 2 (1.1%)Writing or sign 18 (9.9%)Unknown 2 (1.1%)Laryngoplasty 3 (1.8%)