Speaking after a laryngectomy

After having your voice box removed (laryngectomy) you will, unfortunately, lose your voice. But you can learn different ways to communicate. 

Learning to speak again after a laryngectomy

Losing your voice if you have had your larynx completely removed (a total laryngectomy) is likely to be a shock in the beginning. But members of your healthcare team will support you during this time. They will also teach you how to speak again.

Voice prosthesis after laryngectomy

A voice prosthesis is the most common way to restore speech after surgery. The voice prosthesis is a valve that allows you to make sounds by pushing air from your lungs through the valve and up into your mouth.

Oesophageal speech after laryngectomy

Oesophageal speech used to be the most common way that people learned to speak after a laryngectomy. To speak in this way, you move air down into your food pipe (oesophagus).

Electrolarynx after a laryngectomy

An electrolarynx is a battery operated machine that produces sound for you to create a voice.

Last reviewed: 
08 Dec 2021
Next review due: 
09 Dec 2024