5.3 Oesophageal Voice

power source filter

oesophageal air reservoir, PE segment, mouth/lips

4 steps

inhale/inject air into oeso, oeso expands slightly, air released to vibrate PE segment, voice shaped into speech

inhalation method (5)

open mouth tongue relaxed, sharp breath intake, thorax expands creating oeso pressure drop, air flows pharynx to oeso below PE segment, air brought back through PE seg with outbreath

injection method (3)

tongue press to inject air into esophagus, increased air pressure in mouth/pharynx, air forced through PE segment

factors influencing success ALSO ARTIFICIAL LARYNX (7)

hearing, extent of surgery, artic, motivation, previous radio/chemo, mood, acceptance

factors influencing success JUST OESO VOICE (1)

chest status

rehabilitation + goals (7)

intensive, more success if no valve surgery, relaxation, increase phonation duration, increase words per air change, repetition for increased consistency, speech sound hierarchy

acquisition difficulties: inability to force air into/from oeso (2)

tongue/velopharyngeal

acquisition difficulties: problems with PE segment (5)

tonicity, spasm, stricture, air sufflation test, pharyngolaryngectomy

rehabilitation: further (4)

control stoma blast, SLT skills, unwanted facial/body mvmts, double pumping

compared to valve voice (3)

quieter, less fluent, more strenuous

good oesophageal speakers stats

5 words/breath, 120 words/minute, lower pitch

% px use oeso speech

30%