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[How good is the esophageal voice?]
Laryngologie, Rhinologie, Otologie
|November 1, 1984
Summary
A new grading system evaluates oesophageal speech clarity in laryngectomised individuals. Younger patients learn this speech better, suggesting tailored care for elderly individuals to improve their speech intelligibility.
Area of Science:
- Speech-Language Pathology
- Otorhinolaryngology
Context:
- Traditional objective methods are inadequate for assessing speech clarity in laryngectomised individuals.
- Oesophageal speech is a common alternative communication method post-laryngectomy.
Purpose:
- To develop and validate a novel grading system for evaluating oesophageal speech quality.
- To analyze factors influencing oesophageal speech intelligibility, particularly age.
Summary:
- A grading system was developed using analytical speech criteria (sound, clarity, fluency, articulation, modulation, syllables, murmur).
- The system grades intelligibility on a scale of 1-5 (very good to poor).
- Testing with 69 oesophageal speakers indicated younger individuals learn this speech more effectively than older adults.
Impact:
- The findings highlight the need for age-specific speech rehabilitation strategies.
- Elderly laryngectomised patients may require more intensive speech therapy for improved communication outcomes.