A comparative acoustic analysis of voice production by near-total laryngectomy and normal laryngeal speakers.

Limited objective data are available on voice characteristics of patients following near-total laryngectomy. Acoustic characteristics of near-total voice were quantified and compared to laryngeal voice production. High quality audio recordings were obtained from 11 subjects who had undergone near-total laryngectomy and 11 age-matched laryngeal speakers. Subjects performed vocal tasks which provided frequency, intensity and duration measures. These data were computer analyzed and indicated that substantial inter and intrasubject variability existed in the acoustic measures for near-total laryngectomy patients. These patients demonstrated a general restriction in fundamental frequency, reduced intensity and a limitation in duration of phonation when compared to laryngeal speakers.