Speaking 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. Members of your healthcare team will support you during this time. They will also teach you how to speak again.

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.

After a laryngectomy, you are no longer able to speak in the normal way. There are different ways you can communicate, including oesophageal speech.

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