Jm. Heaton et al., IN-VIVO MEASUREMENTS OF INDWELLING TRACHEOESOPHAGEAL PROSTHESES IN ALARYNGEAL SPEECH, Clinical otolaryngology and allied sciences, 21(4), 1996, pp. 292-296
Over the last 5 years, detailed air pressure, flow and voice measureme
nts have been made on indwelling tracheo-oesophageal speaking valves w
hilst inserted in patients, using specially designed apparatus. This s
tudy was set up to investigate the relationship between speech and in
vivo parameters. In vivo pressure measurements were generally lower fo
r Groningen low resistance than Groningen high resistance, while flow
and voice measurements were higher. A plot of opening pressure against
pressure at maximum how for all valves suggested a straight line rela
tionship. A graph of maximum voice against composite parameter score f
or all valves showed a cluster of points between the composite score o
f 0-15. The advances in knowledge about these valves should be of use
in the design of improved valves.