Temporal and perceptual characteristics of tracheoesophageal voice

This study compared the temporal and perceptual characteristics of tracheoesophageal voice produced in four different prosthetic/occlusion conditions: 1. using the Blom-Singer duckbill prosthesis and digital occlusion of the tracheostoma; 2. using the Blom-Singer duckbill prosthesis and valve occlusion of the tracheostoma; 3. using the Blom-Singer low-pressure prosthesis and digital occlusion of the tracheostoma; and 4. using the Blom-Singer low-pressure prosthesis and valve occlusion of the tracheostoma. Characteristics of speech produced in each condition were also compared to those of normal speech. Results revealed significant differences between normal speech and tracheoesophageal speech (in all prosthetic/occlusion conditions) for several temporal and perceptual parameters. In addition, important trends were noted among tracheoesophageal prosthetic/occlusion conditions.