[A perceptual study of question and assertive modalities after vertical partial laryngectomies]

Our study concerns the perception of the contrast between assertives and question modalities in patients having undergone a cordectomy or a vertical partial laryngectomy.

Four patients (2 cordectomies and 2 vertical partial laryngectomies), age from 57 to 66 year old (average 61; median 61) were included. They were recorded while producing logatomes, constituents and sentences in the assertive and question modalities. Perceptual evaluation was analysed using Praat software. The assessors (consisting of 8 French native auditors, 4 men and 4 women) evaluated 80 stimuli.

Our results show a good average rate of modality recognition with a good intelligibility for these patients. The more frequent errors were in the vertical partial laryngectomies group who had more unpredictable modulations.

Our small sample does not allow us to generalize but our first observations tend to show that these patients have a good capability in producing question and assertive modalities.