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August 2002

The Voice of Courage
PUBLISHED TO ENLIGHTEN THE NEW LARYNGECTOMEES ABOUT THEIR FUTURE LIFE, SINCE MID 1972

By Dean Rosecrans P.O. Box 310 Nampa, Idaho 83653 1-800-237-3699 08/10/2002

Larkel | Esophageal Speech | Digital Servox | Support Groups

| Larkel |

1.                           “Courage is fear turned inside out. It is impossible to be courageous if at first you weren’t afraid.” Sports psychologist Dr. Bob Roptella.
               I witnessed the larkal demonstration at poolside in Vancouver, BC Canada. The larkal device allows a laryngectomee to go swimming. A tube that is placed in the trachea through the stoma much like the snorkel used by scuba divers. This tube is then pressurized to keep water out of the trachea.
            The stoma must be desensitized to allow the tube to be inserted. Probably the stuff a dentist uses prior to administering novocaine.
            The German representative intelligently narrated the events as they happened. The larkal demonstrator, a laryngectomee, did a very good job going under the water and swimming back and forth in the pool.
            The courageous acts were really performed by the two women laryngectomees that had no stoma covering and duplicated the acts of the larkel user.
            No mention was made of the two laryngectomized women swimming in the pool. One of the women swimming without any stoma protection was the incoming president of the IAL.
            I have seen the larkel demonstrated many times in the past 25 years. The first time was in Dallas in 1975. This demonstration was far superior to any that I have seen in the past especially with the addition of the other swimmers silently duplicating every movement and activity without any preparation. They just went in the pool and swam around using their fingers or thumb to prevent the water from entering their stoma.

| Digital Servox |

1.                           Good news for laryngectomees using an artificial larynx. Servox has come out with a digital unit. That probably doesn’t mean anything to you but like the new cell phones it is a technology that allows for many new features.
            Yes, we have purchased an inventory of this new product and will accept insurance claim assignments for the product. It is pricey but the advantages far out weigh the price. One feature you will like if now the two buttons can have different volume adjustments not just a change in frequency or tone.
            The tone can be adjusted for the same pitch but the volume can be different for each button. I don’t know if the laryngectomees in the United States realize or know how to effectively use the two tones available with the old Servox Inton.
            For speech pathologists the unique feature of a serial interface that allows connection to a computer is helpful. A quick change can be made and saved from patient to patient.
            For us the optical battery control is a plus. A flashing red light tells us when the battery needs charging. The dual charger is much the same but the digital electronics preserve and are more compatible to the nickel metal hydride batteries components.
            The best new feature you will recognize is the ease with which the cord can be removed or changed by the user. No need to send it to the dealer for this service.
            Now for the good part, if your artificial larynx is more than five years old most major medical insurance and/or Medicare will buy you a new one.
            What you need is a new prescription and the desire to speak more clearly. The retail price is too high to quote but our discount price is $599.00. This include two batteries, a new digital dual battery charger, an oral adapter and two day delivery in the United States. Yes. We will accept your Medicare and/or major medical insurance claim assignment.
            If your deductibles have been met for the year and Medicare has not paid on an A/L for you in the past five years, now is the time to buy the best on the market today.
            I will be attending the Texas Laryngectomee meeting in San Antonio from April 5^th through the 8^th. The vender’s viewing time is 8:A.M. on Friday the 6^th till 5:30 P.M. and again on Saturday the 7th.

Larkel | Esophageal Speech | Digital Servox | Support Groups

| Esophageal Speech |

1.                           AT the IAL convention I ran into four, yes, four laryngectomees that sought me out to tell me of their remarkable discovery, esophageal speech. They all had had a T/E puncture and had used it successfully for years or months.
            All four had received my free video, “Secrets of Esophageal Speech”. In there I state that puncture speech is in essence, esophageal speech with a different source of air for speech. Sure T/E speech is easier but also has its pitfalls. Think of the time spent in preparation each day
            And besides, a T/E speaker is not independent, but a disabled person using a crutch. Do you know any cripple using a crutch that wouldn’t throw away their crutch if with courage and determination they could stop and lead a normal life?
            Esophageal speech can allow a laryngectomee to lead a normal life with few exceptions. I took the time to explain esophageal speech to one man from Canada who had a prosthesis in place. I explained that without using his thumb he could talk. He tried. He Failed.
            Then, I told him to take a deep breath and let all of the air out of his lungs and say the word twenty. A few tries and he said it perfectly. Then we expanded and had him extend the vowels with force. He was very surprised that he had greater volume than with his T/E speech.
            Why did he have to take a deep breath and let all of the air out of his lungs, was his first question. Two reasons, I explained. First, it prevents stoma blast when forcing esophageal speech for volume. Second, it begins the training of the upper sphincter muscle to accept air and hold it for esophageal speech. After this muscle is trained properly for esophageal speech it will always retain a small amount of air for immediate speech, anytime.
            This man was amazed. I told him, when alone for five minutes say, twenty, twentytwo, etc., loudly, forcefully. Do this every hour and in no time you will have an independent form of communication that will allow a normal life.

| Support Groups |

            Want to increase attendance at your support group meeting? Advertise speech training. Most laryngectomees use esophageal speech with family and friends but are afraid to go our in public without a crutch. It takes courage.

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August 2002
The Voice of Courage PUBLISHED TO ENLIGHTEN THE NEW LARYNGECTOMEES ABOUT THEIR FUTURE LIFE, SINCE MID 1972 By Dean Rosecrans P.O. Box 310 Nampa, Idaho 83653 1-800-237-3699 08/10/2002
Larkel \| Esophageal Speech \| Digital Servox \| Support Groups
\| Larkel \| 1. “Courage is fear turned inside out. It is impossible to be courageous if at first you weren’t afraid.” Sports psychologist Dr. Bob Roptella. I witnessed the larkal demonstration at poolside in Vancouver, BC Canada. The larkal device allows a laryngectomee to go swimming. A tube that is placed in the trachea through the stoma much like the snorkel used by scuba divers. This tube is then pressurized to keep water out of the trachea. The stoma must be desensitized to allow the tube to be inserted. Probably the stuff a dentist uses prior to administering novocaine. The German representative intelligently narrated the events as they happened. The larkal demonstrator, a laryngectomee, did a very good job going under the water and swimming back and forth in the pool. The courageous acts were really performed by the two women laryngectomees that had no stoma covering and duplicated the acts of the larkel user. No mention was made of the two laryngectomized women swimming in the pool. One of the women swimming without any stoma protection was the incoming president of the IAL. I have seen the larkel demonstrated many times in the past 25 years. The first time was in Dallas in 1975. This demonstration was far superior to any that I have seen in the past especially with the addition of the other swimmers silently duplicating every movement and activity without any preparation. They just went in the pool and swam around using their fingers or thumb to prevent the water from entering their stoma.		\| Digital Servox \| 1. Good news for laryngectomees using an artificial larynx. Servox has come out with a digital unit. That probably doesn’t mean anything to you but like the new cell phones it is a technology that allows for many new features. Yes, we have purchased an inventory of this new product and will accept insurance claim assignments for the product. It is pricey but the advantages far out weigh the price. One feature you will like if now the two buttons can have different volume adjustments not just a change in frequency or tone. The tone can be adjusted for the same pitch but the volume can be different for each button. I don’t know if the laryngectomees in the United States realize or know how to effectively use the two tones available with the old Servox Inton. For speech pathologists the unique feature of a serial interface that allows connection to a computer is helpful. A quick change can be made and saved from patient to patient. For us the optical battery control is a plus. A flashing red light tells us when the battery needs charging. The dual charger is much the same but the digital electronics preserve and are more compatible to the nickel metal hydride batteries components. The best new feature you will recognize is the ease with which the cord can be removed or changed by the user. No need to send it to the dealer for this service. Now for the good part, if your artificial larynx is more than five years old most major medical insurance and/or Medicare will buy you a new one. What you need is a new prescription and the desire to speak more clearly. The retail price is too high to quote but our discount price is $599.00. This include two batteries, a new digital dual battery charger, an oral adapter and two day delivery in the United States. Yes. We will accept your Medicare and/or major medical insurance claim assignment. If your deductibles have been met for the year and Medicare has not paid on an A/L for you in the past five years, now is the time to buy the best on the market today. I will be attending the Texas Laryngectomee meeting in San Antonio from April 5^th through the 8^th. The vender’s viewing time is 8:A.M. on Friday the 6^th till 5:30 P.M. and again on Saturday the 7th.
Larkel \| Esophageal Speech \| Digital Servox \| Support Groups
\| Esophageal Speech \| 1. AT the IAL convention I ran into four, yes, four laryngectomees that sought me out to tell me of their remarkable discovery, esophageal speech. They all had had a T/E puncture and had used it successfully for years or months. All four had received my free video, “Secrets of Esophageal Speech”. In there I state that puncture speech is in essence, esophageal speech with a different source of air for speech. Sure T/E speech is easier but also has its pitfalls. Think of the time spent in preparation each day And besides, a T/E speaker is not independent, but a disabled person using a crutch. Do you know any cripple using a crutch that wouldn’t throw away their crutch if with courage and determination they could stop and lead a normal life? Esophageal speech can allow a laryngectomee to lead a normal life with few exceptions. I took the time to explain esophageal speech to one man from Canada who had a prosthesis in place. I explained that without using his thumb he could talk. He tried. He Failed. Then, I told him to take a deep breath and let all of the air out of his lungs and say the word twenty. A few tries and he said it perfectly. Then we expanded and had him extend the vowels with force. He was very surprised that he had greater volume than with his T/E speech. Why did he have to take a deep breath and let all of the air out of his lungs, was his first question. Two reasons, I explained. First, it prevents stoma blast when forcing esophageal speech for volume. Second, it begins the training of the upper sphincter muscle to accept air and hold it for esophageal speech. After this muscle is trained properly for esophageal speech it will always retain a small amount of air for immediate speech, anytime. This man was amazed. I told him, when alone for five minutes say, twenty, twentytwo, etc., loudly, forcefully. Do this every hour and in no time you will have an independent form of communication that will allow a normal life.		\| Support Groups \| Want to increase attendance at your support group meeting? Advertise speech training. Most laryngectomees use esophageal speech with family and friends but are afraid to go our in public without a crutch. It takes courage.