Improving alaryngeal speech intelligibility

Abstract

Laryngectomized patients using esophageal speech or an electronic artificial larynx have difficulty producing correct voicing contrasts between homorganic consonants. Voicing of a voiceless consonant is the most frequent listener misidentification. A therapy technique is described that emphasizes “pushing harder” on voiceless consonants to improve the intelligibility of alaryngeal speakers. Laryngectomy speech therapy programs should focus first on the production of voiceless consonants before attempting to effect voicing.