The EORTC questionnaires in combination with the VHI questionnaire seem to capture most of the problems following laryngectomy, including voice problems.

This study aimed to relate the results of physiological measurements of the pharyngoesophageal (PE) segment in subjects using tracheoesophageal (TE) or esophageal (E) speech with perceptual assessment of the speakers' voice quality and acoustic measurements of the voice function. It further aimed to investigate possible differences in appearance and placement of the voice source between TE and E speakers. Nine subjects who had undergone a laryngectomy (five TE speakers and four E speakers) participated in the study. They were videoradiographically examined during phonation and silence. Measurements were made of size and placement of the PE segment, the distance between the PE segment and the anterior wall, and the distance between the posterior and anterior esophageal walls beneath the segment. Five trained listeners perceptually assessed the subjects' voice quality, and acoustical analyses of fundamental frequency and sound pressure level were made. The physiological measurements of the nine subjects' individual PE segments varied in terms of appearance and placement during both phonation and silence, but all of the subjects showed a good closure at the PE segment level during phonation. Statistically significant results were found between all of the physiological measurements of the PE segment. Significant results were also found between the acoustical and perceptual assessments of the subjects' voices. No relations were found between the physiological measurements and the acoustic and perceptual results. The conclusion of this study was that there were no specified differences in the PE segment between TE speakers and E speakers, but that there were large individual differences within each speaker group.

Perceptual evaluations could indicate significant differences between the patients who underwent laryngectomy and irradiated patients, where the acoustic analysis failed to reflect these differences. Both patient groups could be distinguished according to acoustic and temporal measures when compared with normal controls. The acoustic analyses were more sufficient in voices without severe dysfunction.

Objective: To perform perceptual and acoustical analyses of tracheoesophageal (TE) speech and relate these analyses to self-reported voice handicap. Methods: Recordings of 35 TE speakers were perceptually assessed by 5 speech-language pathologists. Acoustical analyses were made of voice aspects and temporal speech aspects. Self-assessments of voice were made with the Voice Handicap Index (VHI). Results: Perceptual assessment of TE speech showed significant correlations between overall degree of deviation and low speaking rate, deviant articulation, monotonous intonation, roughness and low pitch. The overall degree of deviation correlated significantly with acoustical measurements of speaking rate, articulation rate, and phrase length. Significant correlations were also found between assessed pitch and measured fundamental frequency, between assessed speaking rate and measured number of words per minute, and between assessed phrase length and measured number of syllables per breath. Self-assessments of VHI were significantly correlated with voice intensity and temporal speech aspects such as total reading time, phrase length, and percent pause time. No significant correlations were found between perceptual assessment and VHI degree. Conclusion: The listeners’ ratings of overall degree of deviation in TE speech showed relations to both voice quality and temporal aspects in speech. The TE speakers’ voice handicap degree were mainly related to changes in temporal aspects of speech.

This study presents results from high-speed imaging recordings of the voice source, that is the pharyngo-esophageal segment, in four laryngectomized men. The subjects were asked to produce VCV-syllables with voiced and voiceless stop consonants during simultaneous high-speed imaging recordings and audio recordings. A general and detailed visuo-perceptual analysis of the shape and vibratory pattern in the pharyngo-esophageal (PE-) segment was made, as well as acoustical measurements of voice onset time (VOT) and closure duration for each syllable. The syllables were also audio-perceptually evaluated by five expert listeners. Results show that the subjects had a high overall intelligibility as judged by the listeners. All four subjects were able to make opening gestures in the PE-segment while producing voiceless stop consonants. In cases where misperceptions were predominant, the acoustical analysis with spectrograms and the detailed analysis of the vibration in the PE-segment gave information about probable causes of the mishearings.