Provoxweb
  • Provoxweb
  • Voice--Speech Rehab
    • Speech Therapy >
      • Introduction
      • Preoperative counseling
      • Outline of voice therapy
      • Important basic principles in voice rehabilitation in prosthetic speech
      • Some points of attention for the 'finishing touch'
      • General aspects of patient instruction
      • Problem solving
      • Conclusion
  • Pulmonary Rehab
    • Introduction
    • Heat and Moisture Exchangers (HME's) >
      • Treatment aspects
      • Prevention aspects
    • Provox HME >
      • Compliance aspects
      • Improvements in compliance
      • Improvements in voicing
      • Early post-operative pulmonary hygiene
      • Breathing resistance
      • Newest Provox HMEs
    • Treatment with inhalation medication
    • Conclusions
    • References

Air escaping underneath cough-relief valve

This might happen when the patient is giving too high pressure for speaking. In that case one hears air blowing underneath the cough-relief valve, the valve opens sometimes during speaking, or valve makes a whistling noise. First check whether the valve is in its strongest position. When the problem still exists in the strongest position try to teach the patient to speak softer and with lower pressure. Usually the patient manages to keep the cough-relief valve closed during speech within a couple of days; the cough-relief valve serves as a 'feedback' mechanism to lower pressure. In case of severe hypertonicity or spasm it should be considered to treat the hypertonicity.
© The Netherlands Cancer Institute - 2003-18; ISBN 90-75575-05-X