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Electrolarynx

Handheld device to produce clearer speech From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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An electrolarynx, sometimes referred to as a "throat back", is a medical device used to produce clearer speech by those people who have lost their voice box, usually due to cancer of the larynx. The most common device is a handheld, battery-operated device pressed against the skin under the mandible which produces vibrations to allow speech;[1] other variations include a device similar to the "talk box" electronic music device, which delivers the basis of the speech sound via a tube placed in the mouth.[2] Earlier non-electric devices were called mechanical larynxes. Along with developing esophageal voice, using a speech synthesizer, or undergoing a surgical procedure, the electrolarynx serves as a mode of speech recovery for laryngectomy patients.[2][3]

Quick Facts Electrolaryngeal speech, И ...

The Voice Quality Symbol for electrolaryngeal phonation in speech is И, approximating the symbol for electricity.

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Overview

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Initially, the pneumatic mechanical larynx was developed in the 1920s by Western Electric. It did not run on electricity, and was flawed in that it produced a strong voice. However, more recent mechanical larynxes have demonstrated similar voice production to commercially available electrolarynxes.[4] Electrolarynxes were introduced in the 1940s, at a time when esophageal speech was being promoted as the best course in speech recovery; however, since that technique is difficult to master, the electrolarynx became quite popular. Since then, medical procedures, such as the tracheo-oesophageal puncture, and the rarely performed laryngeal transplantation surgery, have been created to enable speech without continued dependence on a handheld device.[2][3]

Quick Facts External media, Audio ...

The use of an electrolarynx can cause social issues, for instance difficulty ordering food, drinks, or other items in noisy environments;[6] or, when answering a telephone, having the caller respond, "Am I talking to a computer?"[5]

However, quality-of-life improvements due to electrolarynx usage are generally significant. One user states:

People are really very kind once they realize what the situation is. I may go into a restaurant once, and if I go back there a year later, and it's the same woman at the front desk, she'll say, "Where have you been? We haven't seen you for a while." So, I feel like a movie star...

I'm really very blessed in my life. I am happier now, without my voice, than I've ever been with my voice. It's a small price to pay for being alive and enjoying life. So I am very happy where I am now.[5]

Traditional electrolarynxes produce a monotone buzz that the user articulates into speech sounds, resulting in the characteristic "robotlike" voice quality. However, in the 1990s, research and commercial multi-tone devices began to be developed, including discrete-tone devices using multiple-position switches[7] or multiple buttons;[8][9] as well as variable-tone devices controlled by single pressure-sensitive buttons,[10] trackballs,[11] gyroscopes,[12] touchpad-like input devices,[13] or even electrical detection of the movement of neck muscles.[14] In addition to allowing speakers of non-tonal languages such as Malay to have a more natural speaking voice,[7][8][10][14] some of these newer devices have allowed speakers of tonal languages such as Mandarin Chinese to speak more intelligibly.[11][12]

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Notable fictional users

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Fictional characters notable for their use of an electrolarynx include:

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References

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