Esophageal Speech (Esophageal Voice)

Esophageal speech or esophageal voice is the process of the oscillation of the esophagus, instead of the vocal cords, in producing speech. This is often an option for those who just had laryngectomy or other similar procedures. The individual generates sound by swallowing small amounts of air and then belching them back up while moving the tongue and lips to create audible words. This non-surgical method is coupled with intensive therapy and is usually mastered only after a relatively long period of time.