A widely adapted form of laryngectomee speech is transcervical electrolaryngeal speech. A transcervical electrolarynx works by the user placing the vibrating diaphragm of the electrolarynx against his neck, the mechanical energy of the diaphragm is transmitted through the neck, exciting the air in the vocal tract; this excited air can be formed by the lips and mouth to yield speech. The limitations of modern devices are that they are cumbersome and unable to produce speech as natural sounding as human speech. | Although the modern electrolarynx has the functionality of being able to provide a laryngectomee with a form of intelligible speech, it still has limitations which in turn produce effects that are very undesirable to the user. Most of the undesirable effects relate to the fact that use of the device warrants the user with unwanted attention by observers, either by the sound of the speech the device produces or by the need for the user to hold the device against his neck. Prototypes are currently being developed, that to varying degrees of success eliminate these undesirable effects. Although these prototypes show promising experimental results, most of these prototypes have been very large when compared the current hand-held devices and have been customized to suit a specific subject. It is still unproven whether or not these new devices will be able to correct all the limitations of current devices in a way that is cost efficient to the user and manufacturer and whether of not these new devices will be easily adapted by future laryngectomees.
