No abstract

in 1954 listed a bibliography of 88 items rela tive to esophageal speech. Since that time Robe, Moore, Andrews and Holinger 18 have contributed a major study to the field as have Bateman, Dornhurst, and Leathheart. 3 No doubt other studies are in the hands of the publishers or in progress.The study of available source material dating from 1859 indicates a great deal of material on the incidence of cancer of the larynx and survival rate subsequent to laryngectomy, 16 the nature of the opera tion, 918 pedagogy, 2 and approximately 20 studies that agree in placing the usual locus of vibration at the level of the cricopharyngeus sphinc ter, 18 but which do not preclude other vibrators. 910 Among the more important considerations is the rather general agreement that the aircharge is usually small 22 and that for successful speakers it is taken into and expelled from the upper esophagus rather than from the stomach or lower esophagus 18 as assumed by early writers.Generally speaking, available source materials have little to offer in the way of normative statistical information that gives direct answers to such important questions as: a) How many words and syllables can be spoken per charge of swallowed air? b) How long does it take to swallow a charge of air? c) What rate in words per minute can be achieved relative to normal speech? d) What character istics of pitch level and variability can be anticipated in esophageal speech?It is the purpose of this study to describe the time and pitch performances of six superior esophageal speakers utilizing speech sam-

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract