Motor integrated electro larynx; a novel, less expensive electro larynx

Abstract

IntroductionTotal laryngectomy results in a muted person. Electro larynx is one method of sound production for speech in such patients. We introduce a novel, less expensive electro larynx. ObjectivesTo assess the usability of the novel electro larynx. MethodsA new electro larynx was developed. Imbalanced motor was used as the vibrator and hence it could be operated with a 3V battery. It is made as a rechargeable device using a mobile phone charger. Fifty Sinhala and English words and 20 numbers were read by a researcher. It was listened and recorded by 5 listeners and documented. Correctly identified words and numbers were analyzed. Test was done both with and without lip reading. ResultsThe new device could generate sound for speech. Eighty-eight percent of English and 89.2% of Sinhala words could be identified with lip reading. For numbers it was 97.6%. ConclusionsNovel electro larynx could be used for effective communication in post laryngectomy patients.