Pitch in esophageal speech.
Most reports on pitch in esophageal speech emphasize that it is low-pitched with a measured fundamental frequency rarely higher than 100 cps. Our investigations show, however, that much esophageal 'phonation' lacks periodicity and, therefore, a fundamental frequency (i.e. pitch in the accepted sense). An auditory impression of pitch modulation can, nevertheless, be created by physical properties other than a varying harmonic structure. Our sample includes a rare case of truly high-pitched esophageal phonation with a fundamental frequency in the upper limit of the voice an octave higher than the highest reported in the literature. High-pitched phonation apparently requires a vibratory source in a 'mode' different from that of low-pitched phonation and should therefore be distinguished from it in discussing pitch in esophageal voice.
Study of the sonospectrographic characteristics of the voice in laryngectomized patients.
The study was carried out on twelve laryngectomized patients, using the sonospectograph of the Kay Electric Co. called Sona-Graph.
Oesophageal Speech
can repeat the process about ten times, each effort producing one syllable; he must then pause and take a breath, as during this time his lungs have been progressively emptying. Fluoroscopy shows that / the oesophagus is usually empty and that swallowing FIG. 3.-Tracing of a radiois normal. Just before the graph taken during oesophageal patient utters a sound the speech. The oesophagus, whose walls are outlined with barium oesophagus suddenly fills paste, has filled down to the with air from the pharynx diaphragm. to the diaphragmatic opening (Fig. 3). During speech this air is expelled by a series of short expiratory efforts, several syllables being possible on one "fill." If air is left in the oesophagus the next swallow carries it into the stomach, which thus tends to become distended, but with experience the patient learns to avoid this. For comparison, records taken during speech in a normal person are shown in Fig. 4. It will be seen that the pressure rise is less than in the patient and the chest is emptied less. The normal process is clearly more economical of both air and effort.