voice prosthesis

A voice prosthesis is a small device that helps people who have lost their natural voice, often due to throat cancer or injury, to speak again. It is usually placed in a surgically created opening between the windpipe and esophagus (stoma). When a person exhales, air flows through the prosthesis into the esophagus, vibrating tissues to produce sound. This allows the person to speak temporarily or permanently, depending on their condition. The device can be removed or replaced as needed, providing a functional way to communicate after voice loss.