Air Intake and Usage in Esophageal Speech

Abstract

Simultaneous recording of the rate and volume of oronasal air flow, respiratory movement and voice signal were made on six esophageal speakers during speech, swallowing and breathing. Analysis of the data indicated the following:

1. The method of air intake varied greatly with the individual. A plosive-injector charged most (91%) of his air during exhalation, while four speakers who utilized the inhalation and injection methods, insufflated more air without voice during inhalation than during exhalation.

2. In all subjects, except the plosive-injector, voice was produced predominantly with outward flow of air during exhalation.

3. The mean flow rates for comfortably sustaining vowel /a/ ranged from 27 to 72 cc/sec.

4. The inhalatory phonation was negligible for all speakers. Swallowing was not effective for air intake.

5. Some clinical implications of the experimental results and pneumotachographic method were discussed.