How is Voice Produced Following Total Laryngectomy?
Voice and speech production after laryngectomy requires that an alaryngeal source can be produced. Two general categories of options (intrinsic and extrinsic) exist for post-laryngectomy speech rehabilitation. Regardless of whether the source is intrinsic or extrinsic, this voiced signal can then be articulated in the upper vocal tract into speech. However, significant changes in the parameters of voice are well documented. Phonation, articulation, resonance, prosody, intelligibility have been shown to change dramatically following laryngectomy. When an electronic source, or electrolarynx is used, changes are more apparent because of the mechanical nature of the alaryngeal source. Alaryngeal speech may be subgrouped into methods that are intrinsic and those that are extrinsic. These terms relate directly to the issue of what constitutes the alaryngeal voice source following laryngectomy, and how the source is introduced into the vocal tract. Intrinsic methods utilize anatomical tissues
