Tracheoesophageal Speech Rehabilitation

Tracheoesophageal speech rehabilitation is a method to help individuals who have lost their natural voice due to throat or larynx (voice box) surgery. It involves creating a small, surgically made connection between the windpipe (trachea) and the esophagus (food pipe). A special voice prosthesis, like a one-way valve, is inserted into this opening. When the person covers their stoma (neediest opening in the neck), air from the lungs is diverted through the prosthesis into the esophagus, causing it to vibrate and produce speech. This technique allows for more natural and functional speech compared to other alternative methods.