Laryngectomy is a surgical procedure in which the larynx (voice box) is removed, usually as a treatment for advanced laryngeal cancer. A total laryngectomy separates the upper airway from the mouth and nose; the surgeon creates a permanent opening in the neck (a stoma) through which the person breathes. As a result, the patient loses the normal voice source since the vocal folds are gone, and normal speech is no longer possible.
Rehabilitation after laryngectomy is a multidisciplinary process: SLPs work closely with these patients both before and after surgery to establish new methods of communication, such as an electrolarynx device, esophageal speech training, or a tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) with a voice prosthesis. SLPs also address swallowing safety and provide counseling and support as the patient adapts to major changes in speaking and breathing.
Perry, Alison. “The Role of the Speech and Language Therapist in Voice Restoration After Laryngectomy.” The Journal of Laryngology & Otology 111, no. 1 (1997): 4–7. Link
Mohebati, Arash, and Jatin P. Shah. “Total Laryngectomy.” Otorhinolaryngology Clinics: An International Journal 2, no. 3 (2010): 207–214. Link
