Speech and voice characteristics after near-total laryngectomy. A preliminary prospective study.

Selected characteristics were prospectively compared in the speech and voice of 10 patients managed with near-total laryngectomy. Tape-recorded speech samples were measured for durational features with a stopwatch. Acoustic features were analyzed with the Computerized Speech Lab and the Multidimensional Voice Program from Kay Elemetrics. Speech and voice parameters recorded preoperatively were compared with the parameters recorded postoperatively. Our data corroborate the prior reported good quality of the voice and speech after near-total laryngectomy.