Towards an Intraoral-Based Silent Speech Restoration System for Post-laryngectomy Voice Replacement

© Springer International Publishing AG 2017, Silent Speech Interfaces (SSIs) are alternative assistive speech technologies that are capable of restoring speech communication for those individuals who have lost their voice due to laryngectomy or diseases affecting the vocal cords. However, many of these SSIs are still deemed as impractical due to a high degree of intrusiveness and discomfort, hence limiting their transition to outside of the laboratory environment. We aim to address the hardware challenges faced in developing a practical SSI for post-laryngectomy speech rehabilitation. A new Permanent Magnet Articulography (PMA) system is presented which fits within the palatal cavity of the user’s mouth, giving unobtrusive appearance and high portability. The prototype is comprised of a miniaturized circuit constructed using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components and is implemented in the form of a dental retainer, which is mounted under roof of the user’s mouth and firmly clasps onto the upper teeth. Preliminary evaluation via speech recognition experiments demonstrates that the intraoral prototype achieves reasonable word recognition accuracy and is comparable to the external PMA version. Moreover, the intraoral design is expected to improve on its stability and robustness, with a much improved appearance since it can be completely hidden inside the user’s mouth

Organ preservation surgery for laryngeal cancer

The principles of management of the laryngeal cancer have evolved over the recent past with emphasis on organ preservation. These developments have paralleled technological advancements as well as refinement in the surgical technique. The surgeons are able to maintain physiological functions of larynx namely speech, respiration and swallowing without compromising the loco-regional control of cancer in comparison to the more radical treatment modalities. A large number of organ preservation surgeries are available to the surgeon; however, careful assessment of the stage of the cancer and selection of the patient is paramount to a successful outcome. A comprehensive review of various organ preservation techniques in vogue for the management of laryngeal cancer is presented