Electrolarynx
| Electrolaryngeal speech | |
|---|---|
| И | |
| Encoding | |
| Entity(decimal) | И |
| Unicode(hex) | U+0418 |
Anelectrolarynx,sometimes referred to as a "throat back",is a medical device about the size of a small electric razor used to produce clearerspeechby those people who have lost theirvoice box,usually due tocancer of the larynx.The most common device is a handheld, battery-operated device pressed against the skin under themandiblewhich produces vibrations to allow speech;[1]other variations include a device similar to the "talk box"electronic music device, which delivers the basis of the speech sound via a tube placed in the mouth.[2]Earlier non-electric devices were called mechanical larynxes. Along with developingesophageal voice,using aspeech synthesizer,or undergoing a surgical procedure, the electrolarynx serves as a mode of speech recovery forlaryngectomypatients.[2][3]
TheVoice Quality Symbolfor electrolaryngealphonationin speech is И, approximating the symbol for electricity.
Overview
[edit]Initially, thepneumaticmechanical larynx was developed in the 1920s byWestern Electric.It did not run onelectricity,and was flawed in that it produced a strong voice. However, more recent mechanical larynxes have demonstrated similar voice production to commercially available electrolarynxes.[4]Electrolarynxes were introduced in the 1940s, at a time when esophageal speech was being promoted as the best course in speech recovery; however, since that technique is difficult to master, the electrolarynx became quite popular. Since then, medical procedures, such as thetracheo-oesophageal puncture,and the rarely performed laryngeal transplantation surgery, have been created to enable speech without continued dependence on a handheld device.[2][3]
| External media | |
|---|---|
| Audio | |
 Using A New Voice To Enjoy Life After Cancer(2:54),StoryCorps[5] | |
| Video | |
 Communication after laryngectomy(8:58), South East Coast Laryngectomy Support Groups (UK)[6] |
The use of an electrolarynx can cause social issues, for instance difficulty ordering food, drinks, or other items in noisy environments;[6]or, when answering a telephone, having the caller respond, "Am I talking to a computer?"[5]
However, quality-of-life improvements due to electrolarynx usage are generally significant. One user states:
People are really very kind once they realize what the situation is. I may go into a restaurant once, and if I go back there a year later, and it's the same woman at the front desk, she'll say, "Where have you been? We haven't seen you for a while." So, I feel like a movie star...
I'm really very blessed in my life. I am happier now, without my voice, than I've ever been with my voice. It's a small price to pay for being alive and enjoying life. So I am very happy where I am now.[5]
Traditional electrolarynxes produce a monotone buzz that the user articulates into speech sounds, resulting in the characteristic "robotlike" voice quality. However, in the 1990s, research and commercial multi-tone devices began to be developed, including discrete-tone devices using multiple-position switches[7]or multiple buttons;[8][9]as well as variable-tone devices controlled by single pressure-sensitive buttons,[10]trackballs,[11]gyroscopes,[12]touchpad-like input devices,[13]or even electrical detection of the movement of neck muscles.[14]In addition to allowing speakers of non-tonal languagessuch as English to have a more natural speaking voice,[7][8][10][14]some of these newer devices have allowed speakers of tonal languages such asMandarin Chineseto speak more intelligibly.[11][12]
Notable fictional users
[edit]Fictional characters notable for their use of an electrolarynx include:
- Agents of "Leviathan" onAgent Carter
- Alpha 60 fromAlphaville
- Charlie inMad Max
- Electrolarynx Guy(Jack Axelrod) onMy Name Is Earl
- Emilio Sanchez, one of the residents of the Lawrence Hilton Jacobs housing project onThe PJs
- Gray Baker inDead Again
- Heathrow, Madea's brother inTyler Perry'sA Madea Family Funeral
- Komtuan, the crime lord from the filmOng-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior,notable as a speaker ofa tonal languagebeing understood despite using a traditional monotone electrolarynx
- Nassara inDry Season
- Ned Gerblanski fromSouth Park
- Sawyer the Cleaner fromBlack Lagoon
- Sheriff Jerry/Angela Baker inReturn to Sleepaway Camp
- Smokie Martling, a parody ofJackie MartlingfromThe Howard Stern Show
- The Smoking Family fromChewin' The Fat
- Stemroach (David Bradley) onIdeal
- WWEwrestlerKane,for his first three years in the company (1997–1999)
- Zimos fromSaints Row The Third
- Evil Troy fromCommunity (TV series)
- The Killer fromNight Terror (Film)
- Glory Dodge inNorth Country
- Krishnadas inAbraham Ozhler(Malayalam Movie)
- Walter Wingfield inSay It Isn't So
- Sani Crow inBanshee
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Department of Otolaryngology."Electrolaryngeal Speech".Eastern Virginia Medical School. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-08-24.Retrieved2013-03-14.
- ^abcOnly Human; Cineflix (2018-06-20).Speaking with a Dead Man's Voice by Organ Transplant Surgery | Only Human.YouTube.Retrieved2019-08-06.
- ^abKrishnan, Giri; Du, Charles; Fishman, Jonathan M.; Foreman, Andrew; Lott, David G.; Farwell, Gregory; Belafsky, Peter; Krishnan, Suren; Birchall, Martin A. (August 2017). "The current status of human laryngeal transplantation in 2017: A state of the field review".The Laryngoscope.127(8): 1861–1868.doi:10.1002/lary.26503.ISSN1531-4995.PMID28224630.S2CID24360597.
- ^Tuttle, Tyler; Erath, Byron (Mar 2018)."Design and Evaluation of a Mechanically Driven Artificial Speech Device".ASME Journal of Medical Devices.12(1): 011002.doi:10.1115/1.4038222.
- ^abcForman, Rene; Reiman, Nadia; Esty-Kendall, Jud; radio stationKCRW(2012)."Using A New Voice To Enjoy Life After Cancer".StoryCorps.National Public Radio.RetrievedFebruary 13,2012.Also hear the audio atNPR
- ^abCommunication after laryngectomy.YouTube.South East Coast Laryngectomy Support Groups (UK). 2011-03-09.Retrieved2013-03-14.
- ^abHelms, Dutch (December 2004)."Whispers on the Web - December 2004".Archived fromthe originalon 2017-12-12.Retrieved2016-08-19.
- ^ab"Servox Digital Electro Larynx Speech Aid".2016.Retrieved2016-08-10.
- ^"Nu-Vois III Electro-Larynges".Archived fromthe originalon 2016-07-24.Retrieved2016-08-19.
- ^ab"The TruTone™ Electrolarynx".2008. Archived fromthe originalon 24 May 2008.Retrieved2016-08-10.
- ^abWan, Congying; Wang, Erqiang; Wu, Liang; Wang, Supin (2012). "Design and evaluation of an electrolarynx with Mandarin tone-control function".2012 International Conference on Audio, Language and Image Processing.pp. 627–631.doi:10.1109/ICALIP.2012.6376692.ISBN978-1-4673-0174-9.S2CID10867420.
- ^abShakya, Bicky; Bharam, Vishal; Merchen, Alexander (2014)."Development of an Electrolarynx Capable of Supporting Tonal Distinctions in Mandarin"(PDF).Trinity College (Connecticut).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on August 10, 2017.Retrieved2016-08-10.
- ^"Electrolarynx Speech Aid » by Labex".labextrade.Retrieved2019-06-20.
- ^abKubert, Heather L.; Stepp, Cara E.; Zeitels, Steven M.; Gooey, John E.; Walsh, Michael J.; Prakash, S. R.; Hillman, Robert E.; Heaton, James T. (2009-01-19)."Electromyographic control of a hands-free electrolarynx using neck strap muscles".Journal of Communication Disorders.42(3): 211–225.doi:10.1016/j.jcomdis.2008.12.002.PMC3748802.PMID19233382.