Abstract
BackgroundLittle has been reported about the impact of tracheoesophageal (TE) speech on individuals in the Middle East where the procedure has been gaining in popularity. After total laryngectomy, individuals in Europe and North America have rated their quality of life as being lower than non-laryngectomized individuals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in quality of life and degree of voice handicap reported by laryngectomized speakers from Jordan before and after establishment of TE speech.MethodsTwelve male Jordanian laryngectomees completed the University of Michigan Head & Neck Quality of Life instrument and the Voice Handicap Index pre- and post-TE puncture.ResultsAll subjects showed significant improvements in their quality of life following successful prosthetic voice restoration. In addition, voice handicap scores were significantly reduced from pre- to post-TE puncture.ConclusionTracheoesophageal speech significantly improved the quality of life and limited the voice handicap imposed by total laryngectomy. This method of voice restoration has been used for a number of years in other countries and now appears to be a viable alternative within Jordan.
Highlights
Little has been reported about the impact of tracheoesophageal (TE) speech on individuals in the Middle East where the procedure has been gaining in popularity
The person breathes through a stoma in the neck which may elicit a negative reaction from the patient
An important component of this study was that pre- and post-TE puncture quality of life scores were gathered for each participant to better assess the impact that establishment of TE speech might have on this group of individuals
Summary
Little has been reported about the impact of tracheoesophageal (TE) speech on individuals in the Middle East where the procedure has been gaining in popularity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in quality of life and degree of voice handicap reported by laryngectomized speakers from Jordan before and after establishment of TE speech. Total laryngectomy results in physical and functional changes that can affect the emotional well-being and some of the most basic functions of life, including breathing, swallowing, and communication [1]. The person breathes through a stoma in the neck which may elicit a negative reaction from the patient (page number not for citation purposes). Other common issues reported after total laryngectomy include dysphagia [4], change in taste and smell [5], and neck and shoulder movement problems [6]. Difficulties in one or several of these areas could negatively impact a person's perceived quality of life
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