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Speaking proficiency variations according to method of alaryngeal voicing
Author(s) -
Williams Sarah E.,
Watson Jennifer Barber
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-198706000-00018
Subject(s) - esophageal speech , voice , intelligibility (philosophy) , audiology , loudness , psychology , laryngectomy , speech recognition , medicine , computer science , larynx , philosophy , surgery , epistemology
Twelve judges, with no previous exposure to laryngectomees, rated the speaking proficiencies of 33 laryngectomees divided into the following groups: 1. esophageal speakers (n=12); 2. electrolarynx speakers (n=11); and 3. tracheoesophageal puncture speakers (n=10). In addition, the speech of ten normal subjects was rated. Specific speaking parameters examined included voice quality, pitch, loudness, intelligibility, rate of speaking, visual presentation during speech, extraneous speaking noise, and overall communicative effectiveness. Multiple discriminant analyses performed on the ratings made by each judge revealed significant differences in ratings for various speaking parameters in the four subject groups. Results generally support the stance that tracheoesophageal speech is perceived as superior to communication with either an electrolarynx or with traditional esophageal speech, even though it is not viewed as comparable to normal voice.