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 unde...

BACKGROUND Vocal rehabilitation of patients with idiopathic Parkinson disease. AIM To describe the interfering factors in the vocal rehabilitation of five individuals with Parkinson disease and to present the modifications in the oral communication. METHOD Interviews and pre and post vocal treatment assessments were carried out using the Lee Silverman Voice treatment method (LVSTO). RESUL...

OBJECTIVES To assess the long-term results of the Provox ActiValve, a prosthesis for voice rehabilitation after total laryngectomy that was designed to lessen the need for frequent replacements caused by Candida and "underpressure." PATIENTS AND METHODS Retrospective assessment of device lifetime, indications for replacement, voice quality, and maintenance issues, measured by a structured tri...

In the last 20 years, neonatal survival has progressively increased due to the constant amelioration of neonatal medical treatment and surgical techniques. Thus, the number of children with congenital malformations and severe chronic pathologies who need rehabilitative care has progressively increased. Rehabilitation programs for paediatric patients with disorders of voice, speech and language,...

Background: vocal rehabilitation of patients with idiopathic Parkinson disease. Aim: to describe the interfering factors in the vocal rehabilitation of five individuals with Parkinson disease and to present the modifications in the oral communication. Method: interviews and pre and post vocal treatment assessments were carried out using the Lee Silverman Voice treatment method (LVST). Results:...

There is an increased risk for vocal and voice diseases due to the modern way of life. It is well known that most of the vocal and voice diseases cause changes in the acoustic voice signal. These diseases have to be diagnosed and treated during an early stage. Acoustic analysis is a non-invasive technique based on digital processing of speech signal. Acoustic analysis can be a useful tool to di...

1 Center for Laryngeal Surgery and Voice Rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA 2 Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA 3 Department for Phoniatrics and Pedaudiology, University Hospital Erlangen Medical School, Erlangen, Germany 4 Institute of Health Professions, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA 5 Department of Speech, Language &...

Purpose: Prosody is the variation of dynamics, frequency, rate, and tone that carries contextual meaning in speech. The purpose of this study is to present an overview of prosody in speech from evolutionary, developmental and cultural perspectives, and to review implications in therapy for voice disorders. Methods: Cross-disciplinary overview. Results: Applications of prosody from linguistics, ...

OBJECTIVE To investigate voice-related quality of life in an effort to index self-assessed voice disability in speakers who use the electrolarynx and to determine the perceived level of influence of the electrolarynx on vocal communication. STUDY DESIGN Prospective study. SETTING This study was conducted at a tertiary care facility. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Forty laryngectomized adults (25 me...

AIM To obtain information about valved speech and related issues in patients who have undergone total laryngectomy with the help of a new structured questionnaire on voice prosthesis. SETTINGS AND DESIGN A questionnaire-based pilot study set at a tertiary referral head and neck cancer unit. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-five patients using voice prostheses, who showed no signs of recurrence ...