Voice prosthesis
Voice Prosthesis
A Voice Prosthesis (pronunciation: /vois prɒsˈθiːsɪs/) is a medical device, specifically designed to help patients who have lost their voice box (larynx) due to conditions such as laryngeal cancer, speak again.
Etymology
The term 'Voice Prosthesis' is derived from two words. 'Voice' comes from the Old French 'voiz', which is derived from Latin 'vox' meaning 'voice'. 'Prosthesis' is a Greek word, 'prostithenai', which means 'to add to'.
Function
The primary function of a voice prosthesis is to allow air to pass from the lungs to the esophagus, where vibrations are created to produce sound. This sound is then articulated into speech by the mouth and nose.
Types
There are two main types of voice prostheses: Tracheoesophageal Voice Prosthesis (TEP) and Esophageal Voice Prosthesis (EVP). TEP is the most commonly used type, where a small plastic device is inserted into a surgically created hole between the trachea and esophagus. EVP, on the other hand, requires the patient to learn to inject air into the esophagus and then release it to create sound.
Related Terms
- Laryngectomy: A surgical procedure to remove the larynx.
- Tracheostomy: A surgical procedure to create an opening in the neck for direct access to the trachea.
- Esophagus: The tube that connects the throat to the stomach.
- Trachea: The windpipe, a tube that connects the voice box to the lungs.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Voice prosthesis
- Wikipedia's article - Voice prosthesis
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