Potential Diagnostic and Therapeutic Application of AI in Voice Disorders and Restoration

Total laryngectomy, a sometimes-necessary surgical procedure, results in the loss of glottal sound production, leading to iatrogenic aphonia that can adversely affect a patient’s quality of life and social interactions. Traditional post-laryngectomy speech rehabilitation methods, including oesophageal speech, electrolarynx, and tracheo-oesophageal voice prosthesis, often fail to preserve the patient’s spoken identity and effective communication. Recent developments in AI technologies, which can decode complex brain activities into language, offer innovative solutions in the rehabilitative process. Integrating augmentative and alternative communication with traditional aids like electrolarynx can create a personalised communication tool. This paper aims to explore the potential of AI-driven speech rehabilitation methods to transform and improve the lives of laryngectomised patients, highlighting the need for continued research to refine these technologies and address ethical and practical considerations for clinical application.