Apparatus to assist esophageal speech

An apparatus to assist esophageal speech in an individual who has undergone a laryngectomy who has a tracheastome and a tracheal-esophageal fistula. The apparatus comprising an elastomeric tube with an open tracheal end and an esophageal end having a one-way slit valve normally closed which allows air to be diverted from the trachea to the esophagus when the tracheastome is sealed and the patient exhales. The elastomeric air tube has an elliptical cross section which contributes to higher rates of air flow and comfortable expiration pressures by reducing the bending movement of the portions of the tube located on either side of the slit or flapper valve. The contacting surfaces of the slit valve are coated with an adhesion-reducing compound to further reduce opening pressure. A retaining flange formed in a plane extending generally perpendicularly from the air tube does not cover the portion of the neck having the tracheastome, thus forming no significant obstruction to breathing. A malleable planer material is embedded in the flange. The flange is formed in a generally V-shape to avoid the cleidomastoid neck muscles thus reducing the tendency of the device to be ejected.