SPEECH PERFORMANCE OF ADULT CANTONESE-SPEAKING LARYNGECTOMEES USING DIFFERENT TYPES OF ALARYNGEAL PHONATION

The purpose of the present study was to compare the speech performance of four types of alaryngeal phonation - electrolaryngeal (EL), pneuma tic artificial laryngeal (PA), tracheoesophageal (TE), and standard es ophageal (SE) speech - by adult Cantonese-speaking laryngectomees. Sub jective ratings of(1) voice quality, (2) articulation proficiency, (3) quietness of speech, (4) pitch variability, and (5) overall speech in telligibility were given by eight naive individuals who had no prior e xperience with any form of alaryngeal speech. Results indicated that S E and TE speech was perceived to be more hoarse than PA and EL speech. EL speech was associated with significantly less pitch variability, a nd PA speakers produced speech with the least amount of perceived nois e. However, articulation proficiency and overall speech intelligibilit y were found to be comparable in all four types of alaryngeal speakers .