Effect of singing training on total laryngectomees wearing a tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis

Abstract

PURPOSE:To assess the effect of a program of singing training on the voice of total laryngectomees wearing tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis, considering the quality of alaryngeal phonation, vocal extension and the musical elements of tunning and legato. METHODS:Five laryngectomees wearing tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis completed the singing training program over a period of three months, with exploration of the strengthening of the respiratory muscles and vocalization and with evaluation of perceptiveauditory and singing voice being performed before and after 12 sessions of singing therapy. RESULTS:After the program of singing voice training, the quality of tracheoesophageal voice showed improvement or the persistence of the general degree of dysphonia for the emitted vowels and for the parameters of roughness and breathiness. For the vowel "a", the pitch was displaced to grave in two participants and to acute in one, and remained adequate in the others. A similar situation was observed also for the vowel "i". After the singing program, all participants presented tunning and most of them showed a greater presence of legato. The vocal extension improved in all participants. CONCLUSION:Singing training seems to have a favorable effect on the quality of tracheoesophageal phonation and on singing voice.

Electrophysiological activity of the pharyngoesophageal transition of total laryngectomees

“…In view of these considerations, we should emphasize the importance of occlusion and of aerodynamic aspects for the quality of communicative proficiency by means of a tracheoesophageal prosthesis . Together with the Bernoulli effect, promoted by airflow, there is the need for hermetic occlusion of the stoma, equilibrated breathing, and preserved pulmonary function so that these factors may act together with the remnant mucosa of the PET for sound production.…”

Corais de indivíduos laringectomizados totais no Brasil

“…The initiative to gather patients with total laryngectomy in a choir group emerges as a complementary therapeutic proposal developed from the perspective of psychosocial care and must be linked to the improvement of the quality of life, the creation and strengthening of personal desires, affections, pleasures, and bonds. In addition, Brazilian research that performed a singing training program for patients with total laryngectomy and with a tracheoesophageal prosthesis showed improvement in the general level of dysphonia, roughness, and breathing or stability of the same parameters in the prolonged emission of vowels and an increased vocal extension in these individuals (6) .…”

Approaches to tracheoesophageal voice rehabilitation: a survey of the UK and Irish speech and language therapists’ current practice and beliefs

“…Higher lung volumes are required to initiate voicing via a voice prosthesis, which results in shorter spoken phrase length (Bohnenkamp, 2008) and reduced speaking rate, contributing to lower ratings of voice quality (Lundstrom, 2011). Improvement in pulmonary physiology has a positive impact on alaryngeal voice quality (Onofre et al., 2013; Pawar et al., 2008). Breathing exercises could therefore be seen as an important factor in voice therapy for people with laryngectomy.…”