The intelligibility of tracheoesophageal speech: first results

A total laryngectomy changes the anatomy and physiology of the vocal tract, with a most noticeable effect on speech. By applying a voice prosthesis, enabling the patient to use tracheoesophageal (TE) speech, speech is of better quality than with esophageal or electrolarynx speech, but still very deviant from laryngeal speech. Most studies on TE speech have focused on voice quality. For the understanding of the physiology of the neoglottis and for improving the results of rehabilitation, it is important to study intelligibility as well. This paper will discuss the first results of a study on TE speech intelligibility.