[Acoustic analysis of tracheoesophageal speech in comparison to esophageal speech after total laryngectomy].

In order to evaluate the vocal quality of tracheo-oesophageal (TE) and oesophageal (E) speech, several acoustic parameters were measured in the acoustic waveform (fundamental frequency, maximum phonation time, maximum intensity) and in the frequency spectrum: harmonicity-to-noise ratio [HNR], pitch perturbation [Jitter], Shimmer. Thirteen patients using tracheo-oesophageal speech (Provox 2 valve) and 11 good oesophageal speakers were evaluated. The control group consisted of 10 healthy men with normal speech. Digital recordings were obtained from examined subjects as they sustained the vowel "a". Maximum phonation time in TE samples was significantly longer than in E speech recordings and similar to the normal speech. The tracheo-oesophageal voices more often showed a detectable fundamental frequency which was fairly stable and lower than in oesophageal and normal speech. In our cohort of patients maximum voice intensity in both groups of alaryngeal speakers was similar and lower than in control group. The Jitter and Shimmer results of TE speech were similar to those of E speech and higher than in controls. HNR was significantly higher in TE speech than in E voice and three times lower in comparison to normal speech. The results of this investigation indicate that TE speech is more like normal speech than is E voice.