Speaking with a voice prosthesis

Key points

• The voice prosthesis is a device that sits between your oesophagus ('food pipe') and trachea ('windpipe').
• By blocking your stoma with a finger, you can redirect exhaled air through your food pipe.
• It produces the clearest and most natural sounding voice. This is called 'tracheoesophageal' (TE) speech.

Introduction

Speaking with a voice prosthesis is a popular choice. Here you can read more to find the reasons why.

How it works

A voice prosthesis or so called ‘valve’, is a silicone device that is inserted during or some time after the laryngectomy procedure.

It’s placed between your 'food pipe' and 'windpipe' and has a flange on either side to keep it in place. Between these flanges there is a tube with a one-way valve that opens while you speak. The valve remains closed when you do not speak e.g. when you eat and drink.

Blocking your stoma with a finger will redirect the air you breathe out through your voice prosthesis and into the food pipe. As this air travels through your food pipe, the tissues will vibrate and create a sound. This is what we call TE speech.

TE speech has been proven to be the most successful way of speaking again after a laryngectomy.

Advantages:

• Superior voice quality and clarity
• Relatively quick and easy to learn
• Functional speech can usually be achieved in a matter of weeks

Selecting the right prosthesis

Provox offers a complete range of voice prostheses and accessories, but which products are right for you? Read more here about the different Provox voice prostheses.

Provox Vega

The Provox Vega is a popular voice prosthesis. Clinical studies have shown the device lasts longer than most, is easy to clean and provides the best voice quality, with low speaking effort.

Provox Vega XtraSeal

The Provox Vega XtraSeal combines the benefits of the Provox Vega with a solution to manage leakage around the voice prosthesis. It consists of a Provox Vega with an additional, enlarged oesophageal flange, designed for users that experience leakage around the voice prosthesis.

Provox ActiValve

The Provox ActiValve is designed for users who experience short device life (less than 4 – 8 weeks) caused by early leakage through the prosthesis.

The Provox Vega, Provox Vega XtraSeal and Provox ActiValve are all inserted and replaced by your clinician.

Provox NiD

A limited number of voice prosthesis users prefer and are able to utilise a self changeable device. For these users we recommend the Provox NiD.

Talk to your clinician if you have any questions about your voice prosthesis or about speaking with a voice prosthesis in general. Together you will find the right solution for you!