The effects of a tracheostoma valve on the intelligibility and quality of tracheoesophageal speech.

In a listening experiment, speech samples obtained from a tracheoesophageal speaker were judged for intelligibility and general quality by inexperienced and experienced listeners. The speaker produced the speech samples using finger occlusion of the stoma and using a tracheostoma valve. Results showed no significant differences in intelligibility of speech between occlusion conditions for single words, 5-word sentences, and 10-word sentences. Conversational intelligibility was judged to be adversely affected by the tracheostoma valve, though quality of speech was not. No significant differences were found between the judgments of inexperienced and experienced listeners.