A recent article published in Health and Quality of Life Outcomes explored how different voice rehabilitation methods affect Voice-related Quality of Life (VrQoL) after total laryngectomy. This review aimed to identify existing research on VrQoL in laryngectomy patients and compare the impact of various speech methods to guide clinicians in choosing the most effective rehabilitation strategies.
Communication Methods Included in the Study
1. Tracheoesophageal Voice Prosthesis (TEP)
What it is: Surgical creation of a small puncture between the trachea and esophagus where a voice prosthesis is placed. Air from the lungs is redirected through the TEP when the stoma is occluded, which then creates vibration through the esophagus to produce sound.
Pros: Most natural-sounding speech; generally rated highest in VrQoL in the study!
Cons: Requires surgery, ongoing prosthesis maintenance, dislodgement, and may lead to complications to such aspiration (leaking through or around the device when swallowing).
2. Esophageal Speech (ES)
What it is: Air is intentionally injected into the esophagus and released to create vibration for voicing.
Pros: No surgery or device needed; fully internal method.
Cons: This method can be hard to learn.
3. Electrolarynx
What it is: Handheld device placed on the neck, cheek, or within the mouth with an adapter that produces sound, which is shaped into speech by the mouth.
Pros: Easy to use; quick voice restoration.
Cons: Robotic sound quality; requires hand use; may not be suitable for patients with significant fibrosis, trismus, or those who have had a total glossectomy.
4. Pneumatic Artificial Larynx (Laronix)
What it is: A non-electric device using lung air to produce sound through a reed mechanism.
No batteries; hands-free option.
Limited availability; inconsistent sound quality. I do not believe the new Laronix device was included in this study.
Key Take Aways:
While this review found that tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) generally yields the highest Voice-related Quality of Life (VrQoL) scores, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Every individual deserves a personalized approach to communication following laryngectomy.
Don’t forget—other valuable options include ASL, writing, communication apps, and speech-generating devices.
If you’re navigating communication challenges after laryngectomy, connect with a speech-language pathologist—we’re here to help you find the best fit for your voice and lifestyle!
Full Article: https://hqlo.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12955-025-02334-6
I Have the electronic laranex, I’m always having issues with it ,I’m waiting for my voice protistsis, hoping that it works out better for me, it’s hard to communicate, and can be frustrating, I’ll keep you updated thanks again Larys speak easy for your help.
I Have Hands Free HME
Need Help Learning To Use It Correctly
I had a my larynx removed four plus yrs ago and it took me a while to learn how to get the best possible voice out of my TEP- I’m convinced it’s leaps and bounds better than the electro larynx because after learning how to use it properly, many of my friends say that I sound like my old self except more gravelly.
That being said, I also could only use the neck strap and not the adhesive around my STOMA. The Atos rep said my neck had ‘unusual topography’ and couldn’t hold a seal – so the neck straps work just fine – I just have to use my finger when I want to speak – as a result , my 3yr old grandson now puts his finger on his throat whenever he speaks to me – makes my heart leap with joy!!