A study of several papers on the subject of the psychological aspects of laryngectomy shows a unanimity of opinion among the authors concerning the importance of the psychic trauma incident to laryngectomy.
Figi and Devine1 and Greene2 agree that the psychic trauma is easily as serious as the physical trauma itself and should never be underestimated in dealing with the patient after the operation. Pitkin3 regards it as one of the most serious problems in the management of patients with carcinoma of the larynx.
Reference is made herein to the relatively high percentage of patients who, because of either physical or psychological reasons, do not attain the ability to produce adequate and acceptable esophageal speech. This significant number should elicit the interest of those dealing with the laryngectomy patient—the surgeon and the speech teacher.
Levin4 suggests several physical and psychological reasons for failure to learn esophageal