Tongue strength Part I: Following total laryngectomy

Surgical repositioning of the genioglossus muscle, as in total laryngectomy, may have an adverse effect on the protrusive strength of the tongue. To test this premise, anterior and lateral tongue strength measures were obtained from 10 laryngectomized and 15 normal subjects by means of a pressure transducer and recording device. The results indicated no significant difference between laryngectomized and normal subjects on tongue strength measures. Further, all laryngectomized subjects were judged to have good to excellent esophageal speech. It was concluded that laryngectomy does not adversely affect the major musculature concerned with protrusive tongue strength for proficient esophageal speakers.