Voice restoration following total laryngectomy by tracheoesophageal prosthesis: Effect on patients' quality of life and voice handicap in Jordan

Abdelrahim Y Attieh¹ , Jeff Searl² , Nada H Shahaltough³ , Mahmoud M Wreikat⁴ and Donna S Lundy⁵

¹Speech Rehabilitation Department, Royal Rehabilitation Center, King Hussein Medical Center, Amman, Jordan

²Department of Hearing and Speech, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas, USA

³Department of Otolaryngology, King Hussein medical Center, Amman, Jordan

⁴Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Royal Rehabilitation Center, Director, Amman, Jordan

⁵Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida, USA

author email corresponding author email

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 2008, 6:26doi:10.1186/1477-7525-6-26


Published:	28 March 2008

Abstract

Background

Little has been reported about the impact of tracheoesophageal (TE) speech on individuals in the Middle East where the procedure has been gaining in popularity. After total laryngectomy, individuals in Europe and North America have rated their quality of life as being lower than non-laryngectomized individuals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in quality of life and degree of voice handicap reported by laryngectomized speakers from Jordan before and after establishment of TE speech.

Methods

Twelve male Jordanian laryngectomees completed the University of Michigan Head & Neck Quality of Life instrument and the Voice Handicap Index pre- and post-TE puncture.

Results

All subjects showed significant improvements in their quality of life following successful prosthetic voice restoration. In addition, voice handicap scores were significantly reduced from pre- to post-TE puncture.

Conclusion

Tracheoesophageal speech significantly improved the quality of life and limited the voice handicap imposed by total laryngectomy. This method of voice restoration has been used for a number of years in other countries and now appears to be a viable alternative within Jordan.