PERCEPTUAL ASSESSMENT OF TRACHEOESOPHAGAEL (TEP) VOICE

Abstract

Objectives:

To assess the TEP voice using perceptual and subjective parameters and compare the voice parameters of persons with TEP at one week & one month post-surgery. To compare the voice parameters of persons with TEP with those having normal voice and to note the time taken for voice/speech assessment.

Material and Methods:

A total of 14 males participated in the study. Among them seven had underwent total laryngectomy surgery followed by a secondary TEP placement; seven age-matched persons with normal larynx/voice served as a control group. Voice/speech of the subjects was assessed while they performed six speech/voice tasks. The performance was analyzed perceptually and semi-objectively by experienced speech pathologists.

Results & Conclusion:

The voice/speech parameters of persons with tracheoesophageal prosthesis showed improvement at one month post-surgery as compared to one week post-surgery. The parameters of TEP voice at one month post-surgery were comparable with normal voice. It is recommended that this voice/speech assessment battery may be used in clinical practice for quick assessment of voice of persons with TEP prosthesis.

Keywords: laryngectomy, speech, tracheoesophageal, voice prosthesis