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Learning to Speak Again After Laryngeal Surgery

Laryngeal cancer is cancer of the larynx, or voice box. Treatment may include a full laryngectomy, meaning the larynx is surgically removed.

Modern advances in surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy treatment, however, can now often save the larynx or part of it. Keeping the larynx saves the voice, even if its quality is changed. If the cancer is very advanced, though, removing the larynx may still be the best option.

What is the larynx?


When the larynx is removed, the surgeon trims and turns the trachea to create an opening in the neck. This opening, called a stoma, is the new passage for breathing, bypassing the nose and mouth. During the operation, the surgeon inserts a tracheostomy tube in the stoma to hold it open. A few weeks later, the doctor may replace the tube with a tracheostomy button, commonly called a stoma button. Some people without a larynx leave the trach tube in, while others, after some time, don't use either the tube or the button.

Learn from others

When the larynx is removed, the usual method of producing voice is also lost. It's important to remember that laryngectomees (someone who has had cancer a laryngectomy surgery) can speak again. You just have to learn a new way to speak. 

A laryngectomee is sometimes called a "lary." You can find a lary to talk to through laryngectomee clubs, often called "Lost Cord" or "Nu-Voice" clubs. You'll find a list of clubs on the International Association of Laryngectomees website.

Preparing for surgery

A speech-language pathologist (SLP) will meet with you before your surgery. The SLP will evaluate your speech and explain your communication options after surgery.

SLPs counsel patients before surgery to put them at ease and to let them know that they'll be able to communicate right after surgery.

You need to know that even if only a part of your larynx is removed, your voice won't sound the same as it did before the operation. It will have a lower pitch, and talking to be heard in loud situations may be difficult. You'll need to practice each type of speech, try to relax when speaking, and be patient. Remember, learning how to speak as a child wasn't easy, either. Your sense of smell and taste may also be affected.

After surgery

For a few days after surgery, you won't be allowed to speak. This is because doctors don't want you to move your tongue around and pull apart the sutures. To help you heal, you'll be fed through a feeding tube for a week or so. The type of feeding tube and length of time you'll need it depend on the type of surgery you've had. A humidifier in your hospital room will moisten the air around the stoma. You may also use a suction machine to remove excess mucus.

Speaking again

Before learning to speak again, you can communicate by writing. You might want to bring a laptop computer with you to the hospital so that you can write notes to caregivers and send emails to family and friends.

Speech therapy usually begins before you leave the hospital. Once the doctor gives approval, the SLP will begin speech lessons with you. Speech may require esophageal speech, an artificial larynx, or a transesophageal puncture (TEP). Each is described below.

 Illustration of the airways and voice box

Esophageal speech

Esophageal speech is when you take air into your esophagus and let it out. The top of your pharyngeal esophagus vibrates and produces sound. It's kind of like a belch, but different — the air isn't coming from the stomach. Air is injected (inhaled or taken in using the lips or the tongue) right below that vibrating segment, and then it comes out. It's a more controlled way to produce sound.

Esophageal speech is difficult and takes time to learn — often up to six months.

After you leave the hospital, you'll continue to learn esophageal speech with the SLP once a week. You may also have a home health speech therapist visit a few times a week. Some hospitals offer intensive laryngectomee workshops to teach esophageal speech. Learning to speak this way may be a challenge, but you won't need any apparatus or additional surgery.

Artificial larynx (AL)

 Illustration of an artificial larynx

You can learn to use an artificial larynx while you're still in the hospital. With a little practice, you can communicate immediately with an AL and can even use it to speak on the telephone.

There are two types of artificial larynxes — neck type and intraoral:

  • The neck type is placed on your skin on the side of your neck, under your chin, or on your cheek. It may require some experimenting to find the position on your neck or near your mouth that produces the best-sounding voice.

  • The intraoral type of AL is a small tube that goes in your mouth. It's best to use your nondominant hand to hold the AL so that your dominant hand is free to write or shake hands.

Some people stick with the AL as their form of speech because they can communicate immediately and don't need another operation to use it.

Although communication is immediate with ALs and the devices are easy to use, some laryngectomees don't like the mechanical quality of the resulting voice.

Tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP)

 Illustration of a transesophageal puncture

A TEP prosthesis is inserted into a puncture that the surgeon makes between your windpipe and your esophagus. This may require another operation, although some doctors perform a TEP at the same time as the laryngectomy. Usually, you can decide if you want a TEP, or the doctor and the SLP will suggest it if esophageal voice is not working.


If you're facing a laryngectomy, try to look at it as an unplanned challenge. You can't do anything about it, so make the best of what you can do. Try to maintain a good attitude. Appreciate the ways you will be better off, like no more snoring and hardly any sinus infections. Learn to laugh at the situations in which you find yourself. You may regret losing your voice, but try to think of it as getting rid of a cancer.



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