Talking Again

 

 

 

electrolarynx

 

 

ElectroLarynx - (abbreviated EL or AL for Artificial Larynx) There are several such devices on the market - of basically two types. They are all battery powered, but with one type of unit, you place it against your throat, push a button, and the machine transmits a vibration noise to your throat which you then form into words and sounds with your lips, teeth, and tongue. With the second type, the vibration sound is transmitted directly into your mouth via a small tube - words and sounds are made in a similar manner. Regardless of the type, the "sound" produced sounds something like THIS ("Hello! How are you?" on an electro-larynx).

 

(Permission to re-print provided by InHealth Technologies, Carpinteria, CA.)

 

Assorted Electro-Larynx Devices


Romet
Servox
Trutone



SOME STATES FURNISH FREE ELECTROLARYNX

There are a few states that furnish an electrolarynx to a new laryngectomee, free. The IAL now has a special page with this information:

Speech and Hearing Equipment Distribution Programs

 

The rules are different in each state and we will add more comments here as we receive them.

CALIFORNIA
The Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program (DDTP) is a California State mandated program, under governance of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Under the DDTP the California Telephone Access Program (CTAP) distributes telecommunications equipment and services for individuals certified as having functional limitations of hearing, vision, mobility, speech and/or interpretation of information.

GEORGIA
This program provides equipment to people who have trouble hearing/talking on the phone. They provide the TruTone electrolarynx to laryngectomees. To qualify, a person has to be a resident of the state of Georgia, certified by a professional, and meet the income requirements. Applicants must show proof that their annual income does not exceed 200% of the federal poverty level.

MASSACHUSETTS
In Massachusetts, Verizon will provide you with a Servox 'free of charge' as part of their 'phone service for people with disabilities'. So long as you are one of their customers. My husband got one from them within a week of calling. There is (of course) paperwork to be filled out, which the Social Service person at the hospital then sent in for us. (Stephanie Buck)

Verizon offers laryngectomees who are Massachusetts residents an electronic larynx free of charge or with a small co-payment if they meet certain eligibility requirements. More information may be obtained by calling 1-800-974-6006. VERIZON offers a variety of equipment such as: TTY's, Braille TTY's, amplifiers, artificial larynx, light signalers, loud bell signalers, etc.

KANSAS

Kansas has just recently added an electrolarynx (only the kind that is attached to a phone) to list of provided equipment. At present, they do NOT provide for an electrolarynx that is independent of the phone. For more information or to request an application, please contact: Kansas Telecommunications Access Program (TAP), 4848 SW 21st Street, Suite 201, Topeka, Kansas 66604-4415. You can also phone: (785) 234-0200

NORTH CAROLINA
Apparently, North Carolina has a program, too, to assist folks with Telephone, TTY, ALD (TruTone) items. Information is available at (Toll Fee): 1-800-999-5737 Income limitations will apply.

SOUTH CAROLINA
Add SC to your list of states that provide a free AL. I had to fax off a lot of paperwork; copy of my drivers license, voters card, and a copy of my telephone bill plus a form signed by my SLP. They wanted to ensure I was a resident and, 5 days later, UPS was at my front door with a new one. If I pass on I must have a relative return it to them. Ron Gillette

TEXAS
Before purchasing your electrolarynx, apply for a voucher for a "free EL" from the State of Texas for a $35.00 processing fee. You can obtain the paperwork from: The Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Box 12607, Austin, Texas 78711; Phone: 512-407-3250 or Fax: 512-451-9316. The paperwork is called Specialized Telecommunications Devices Assistance Program Voucher. You can also access this Texas office on the Internet and download an application to complete and send in.

TRYING TO KEEP UP

You may think that you can get along with pencil and paper, but this is really a time consuming ordeal. One of the things that you will quickly discover is that when there are two or more people besides yourself trying to carry on a conversation, they are off on a different topic while you are still writing a comment on something mentioned earlier. An electrolarynx is the first "voice" most of us have after laryngectomy, sometimes the only voice we have and is a spare or back-up voice even if you learn another method of speech.

 

ORAL ADAPTERS

My husband, Bill, has to use the oral adapter with his Servox. He is lucky to have a daughter that cleans teeth and uses the adapters in her business, so she keeps him supplied with them. Thought maybe there are others that could ask friends and relatives in the business to help them out or maybe your dentist will give you a couple for spares. Just something else we don't have to buy. (Grace and Bill Wegman)

 

USING THE NECK TYPE ELECTROLARYNX

Most artificial or electrolarynges (called either AL or EL) are made to be used by holding them against the outside of the neck, but some have oral adapters, particularly useful when the throat is swollen or sensitive. Some of these brand names are Servox, TruTone, Romet, Optivox, Nu-Vois, Denrick and Solatone . Important tips on using them include:

Find the "sweet spot". There will be one, two, or even more places on the neck which produce a louder, clearer, sound. A simple way to find the sweet spot is to open your mouth and keep it in one position as you place the electrolarynx in different locations on your neck and push the button on the device. Try and maintain a uniform pressure of the EL head against your neck at each location. The laryngectomy operation produces lots of scar tissue and swelling which will initially muffle the sound (that’s when you use the oral adapter). Neck tissue which has been treated with radiation can be difficult. Also, the sweet spot can change over time as healing progresses, so you should periodically try other locations. In addition to trying different locations, experiment with different amounts of pressure to get a good compromise between too tight, which can be very uncomfortable, and too loose, which will produce an unpleasant clatter and unintelligible speech.

If possible, learn to hold and operate the EL in your non-dominant hand since it frees up your other hand so that you can write. Press the button on and off to coordinate with your phrases and sentences. It will make it easier for people to understand you, as well as make it a more pleasant and natural sound for the listener. Pauses are important. A variety in your speech rate (how fast you talk), and pauses can help substitute for the pitch variations in your pre-laryngectomy voice. Over-articulate, or slightly exaggerate your pronunciation of words. Open your mouth wider and give more emphasis to the final consonant sounds in words, such as the "d" sound in the word "cold", the "t" sound in "pleasant", the "ch" sound in "speech", and the "p" sound in "tape". Try and speak more slowly than you did with your pre-laryngectomy voice. If your EL has a pitch and/or volume control, practice using them to vary the pitch to provide variety, and adjust your volume to different situations.

 


WHAT DO THE VARIOUS EL DEVICES SOUND LIKE?

While it is difficult to reproduce the EXACT sounds via the Internet, the following are various "example" recordings (.wav and .aiff files) made of individuals using the indicated device. (Note: Your personal "sound" could vary greatly from one device to another. Everyone is different and success is dependent upon the right combination of equipment, training, and practice.) Some of the larger files take a minute or two to upload completely, but they are worth the wait. Make sure the file is fully loaded before you play it.

1. TruTone - "Hello, how are you?" (.wav - 28 KB)

2. SolaTone - "I'm doing great!" (.wav - 16 KB)

3. Nu-Vois - "I'm doing great!" (.wav - 49 KB)

4. OptiVox - "I'm doing great!" (.wav - 19 KB)

5. Servox - "I'm doing great!" (.wav - 18 KB) *

6. UltraVoice - "My name is Patsy." (female user) (.wav - 246 KB)
UltraVoice Plus - (Provided by UltraVoice) (.wav - 376 KB)

7. Cooper-Rand - "The rainbow is a division of white light into many beautiful colors." (.aiff - 260 KB) *

(*Samples provided courtesy of Dr. Philip C. Doyle, Voice Production and Perception Laboratory, University of Western Ontario)

Also, "BBC Tyne" in the UK has made two "videos" showing a gentleman using an electrolarynx. You will need "RealPlayer" or the AOL Media Player to view them. Links to these are as follows:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/videonation/stories/man_from_mars.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/videonation/stories/cat.shtml

 

BETTER COMMUNICATION

1] Look at the person to whom you are speaking, and have them look at you. A lot of our communication is visual. Understanding is enhanced from seeing your head nod in agreement or the expression on your face as something pleases or displeases you. Don't try to talk from one room to another and lose the benefits of face to face conversation.

2] As a Realtor/general contractor I spend 30-40% of my day on the phone.After a bad phone experience with a customer I found a solution that works great for me. When I answer or call someone for the first time, I start my call by say... "First let me explain my voice, I speak with an electronic speech device due to the loss of my voice to cancer, so it may take a moment for your ears to tune in."


Seems to work everytime... amazing how everyone answers back that they can understand me just fine.You also become an excellent judge on who is or is not a good listener, plus I no longer have to introduce myself to anyone on the phone after first call since as soon as they hear my Servox voice they know who it is!
Randy Wienke, WI

 

BATTERIES FOR ELECTROLARYNX

1. If your batteries are not charging well, the charging port may not be making a good contact. Try cleaning off the surface of the Servox with alcohol, and rub the little contact point in the charging port with a clean pencil eraser. Also make sure the contact point on the bottom of the Servox battery cap is clean. You can use the pencil eraser on this as well. Jack Nolin

2. After having problems with batteries not charging, I found the culprit. The batteries are good, it was the charger malfunctioning and shutting off long before battery was charged. Be sure your charger is working. (Jerry Lowe)

3. About 9.6v Nuvois II or III batteries - I am a little frugal and, consequently, hate to throw away batteries when they start to weaken. I charge them to the max and use them in garage door openers and they do very well. 

John AR - 0208

(Comment: Most clocks and other household items use little power but our fireman warns us, smoke protectors are important to our lives.)

 

PROTECTING THE SERVOX?

1. In the kitchen while doing chores such as peeling onions or cutting up chicken, you can protect your electrolarynx by sticking it in a sandwich size thin plastic bag (the cheapest kind). (Pat Sanders)

2. At the garage, I found that greasy hands were messing up my Servox. A baggie was the answer to keep the Servox clean and you can talk just as well through the plastic.

(Steve Verngren)

3. My laryngectomee husband, Jay, works at construction sites. He uses a Servox EL. He was having a lot of problems with it because of dust and grime and was having to send it off on a regular basis to Siemens for costly repairs. They recommended he try to protect it from dust. We pondered this for quite some time and he was trying a baggie wrapped around the end. He was explaining to one of the construction workers why he does this and the guy whipped a condom out of his wallet and said to Jay, "Here, try this." It was the perfect solution! The last repair was almost a year ago and since he's gone to this type of "protection", the Servox has worked fine. (Sara Rothenberger)

USING AN ELECTROLARYNX AS A "BACK-UP"

FOR YOUR TEP OR ESOPHAGEAL SPEECH

For suggestions, contributions or questions about this section, please contact:
Ed Chapman, VP Web Site Information

Len Librizzi, Webmaster