Speaking with an electrolarynx

Key points

• The electrolarynx is a good choice after surgery or as a back-up to speaking with a voice prosthesis.
• It has a vibrating head that you press against your throat to speak.
• Whilst it's convenient to use, the electrolarynx has an electronic sounding tone and you will need to speak slowly and clearly for the best results.

Introduction

The electrolarynx produces a different sort of voice, but with practice and remembering a few important rules, you’ll find a way to make it work for you.

Why would I need one?

An electrolarynx is used for a number of reasons:

• Communicate straight after surgery while still healing
• Communicate while learning to speak with a voice prosthesis
• Have a back-up in case other forms of speaking don’t work

How does it work?

The electrolarynx has a vibrating head that serves as a sound source. When you hold it against your neck and press the button, it will produce sound that will enable you to speak.

Your clinician can help you to use the device correctly. Make the most of their help and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Tips for using your electrolarynx

Using an electrolarynx is not hard, but there is a degree of technique and practise required to make sure people can understand you. There are several adjustments that can be made to achieve the best quality speech.

Keep these points in mind when starting to use your electrolarynx.

‘Head’ placement

If your electrolarynx is not fully pressed against your neck, the sound is not entirely transmitted into the throat and you’ll start to hear more of a buzzing sound.

Always make sure your electrolarynx is completely touching your neck tissue. Even beard stubble can interfere with the contact, so if you do have any facial hair, it’s best to keep your neck neatly shaved.

Proper positioning

There will be parts of your neck where the device will work better than other parts. The best placement for your electrolarynx is somewhere the neck tissues are soft and thin. In general, the denser or tougher the neck tissues are, the harder it will be to achieve a nice sound.

The ‘big mouth’ effect

The human ear is designed to listen and understand natural speech. The electrolarynx however adds an electronic tone to your voice that might be challenging for some listeners – especially those with poor hearing.

We recommend you adapt your speaking style when using an electrolarynx. Try to articulate more precisely, speak more slowly and in shorter sentences with natural pauses. Soon it will become a habit and feel more comfortable for you. Just give it some time.