Aerodynamics of esophageal voice production with and without a Groningen voice prosthesis.

Objective: Aerodynamic aspects of esophageal voice production in laryngectomees have been studied to clarify and compare the physiology of injection (IE) and button-assisted (TE) esophageal voice.

Methods: Simultaneous measurements of intratracheal, sub- and suprapseudoglottic pressure, transpseudoglottic flow and sound pressure level (SPL) in laryngectomees were carried out. Efficiency of substitute voice production and pressure loss over the prosthesis were calculated. Relationships between the variables were computed by means of regression analysis, and Pearson's product-moment correlations.

Results: (1) TE speakers use a higher subpseudoglottic pressure and a higher mean airflow rate during phonation than IE speakers; (2) in TE and IE speakers SPL values are about the same; (3) in assessing voice performance of TE speakers intratracheal air pressure is the most important aerodynamic variable.

Conclusions: The aerodynamic model of button-assisted esophageal voice production presented here provides a basis for future studies in this field.