II. HOW TO PRACTICE ESOPHAGEAL SPEECH
SOME ADVICE
｡?efore the operation
1) Be confident that you can speak again after laryngectomy in some way other than before. It is most desirable for you to have proficient esophageal speakers visit you, as they say 'seeing is believing'. Moreover, if you see how rehabilitated they are, you will be less afraid of surgery.
2) If you try to belch again and again about a week or so before the operation, and if you succeed in belching whenever you want, you may be able to shorten the postoperative period of practice in esophageal speech. Indeed some patients have made progress by having the preoperative training in belching.
