Class
Article
College
Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services
Department
Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education Department
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Abstract
For individuals with laryngeal cancer, a multimodal treatment approach is commonly used, which often includes a total laryngectomy. Total laryngectomy involves surgical removal of the entire larynx, the muscular and cartilaginous structure in the neck, also known as the voice box. Subsequently, a hole is surgically created in the front of the neck and trachea (or windpipe), then a small tube and valve called a stoma is inserted into the hole. The purpose of the stoma is to reroute the respiratory pathway from the mouth and nose to this opening. For individuals who require a total laryngectomy, the ability to communicate via a typical voice is gone. There are three primary modes of alaryngeal communication used to rehabilitate the voice after a total laryngectomy: Electrolarynx (EL), esophageal speech (ES), and tracheoesophageal (TE) speech. We know that individuals who use alaryngeal communication are required to communicate very differently. They may have weaker contact pressures, reduced intelligibility and distorted vocal quality. These individuals also have difficulties maintaining employment and a fulfilling social life. Previous research has looked at the mechanical differences between alaryngeal communication and typical speech. Some have also studied listener impressions, but all the participants are either students or clinicians in speech-language pathology. The current study gathered listener impression information from 384 participants of the lay public. The participants listened to eight audio recordings of a male and female who use EL, ES, TE speech and typical laryngeal speech. They were asked to rate their perception of the individual's intelligence, likability and employability. There has not been research of this kind with such a high number and diverse group of participants from the general public, looking specifically at speaker intelligence, likability and employability. The hope is to use this information and contribute to increased awareness of this population and higher quality care from health professionals.
Location
Room 208
Start Date
4-11-2019 12:00 PM
End Date
4-11-2019 1:15 PM
Included in
Listener Impressions of Individuals Who Use Alaryngeal Communication
Room 208
For individuals with laryngeal cancer, a multimodal treatment approach is commonly used, which often includes a total laryngectomy. Total laryngectomy involves surgical removal of the entire larynx, the muscular and cartilaginous structure in the neck, also known as the voice box. Subsequently, a hole is surgically created in the front of the neck and trachea (or windpipe), then a small tube and valve called a stoma is inserted into the hole. The purpose of the stoma is to reroute the respiratory pathway from the mouth and nose to this opening. For individuals who require a total laryngectomy, the ability to communicate via a typical voice is gone. There are three primary modes of alaryngeal communication used to rehabilitate the voice after a total laryngectomy: Electrolarynx (EL), esophageal speech (ES), and tracheoesophageal (TE) speech. We know that individuals who use alaryngeal communication are required to communicate very differently. They may have weaker contact pressures, reduced intelligibility and distorted vocal quality. These individuals also have difficulties maintaining employment and a fulfilling social life. Previous research has looked at the mechanical differences between alaryngeal communication and typical speech. Some have also studied listener impressions, but all the participants are either students or clinicians in speech-language pathology. The current study gathered listener impression information from 384 participants of the lay public. The participants listened to eight audio recordings of a male and female who use EL, ES, TE speech and typical laryngeal speech. They were asked to rate their perception of the individual's intelligence, likability and employability. There has not been research of this kind with such a high number and diverse group of participants from the general public, looking specifically at speaker intelligence, likability and employability. The hope is to use this information and contribute to increased awareness of this population and higher quality care from health professionals.