Introduction Total laryngectomy (TL) involves removing a patient’s larynx [1]. Individuals who undergo a TL require voice restoration using alternative communication methods. Voice rehabilitation with acceptable voice quality has been shown to improve psychosocial health and quality of life post-laryngectomy [2–6]. There are four potential communication options after TL: esophageal speech (ES), electrolarynx (EL), pneumatic device (PD) and tracheoesophageal speech (TES) using a voice prosthesis (VP) [7–9]. ES is produced by inhalation and/or injection of air into the esophagus. ES is difficult to learn and is constrained by the limited air reservoir, affecting the number of words that can be articulated. EL speech involves a handheld device and is generally easier to learn than ES [9]. The EL produces an external vibration that resonates in the patient’s oral cavity or neck musculature, with the patient shaping the sound into words using their articulators. However, the EL is an external device and leads to a mechanical timber. The PD uses the patient’s exhaled air to produce internal vibrations, which are articulated into speech through the mouth and tongue. PD and TES are most efficient at accurately producing lexical tones, but TES reportedly offers better overall communication-related quality of life compared to PD speech [10].