Speaking Valve

Definition
A speaking valve is a plastic attachment that fits at the end of a cuffless tracheostomy tube or a tracheostomy tube with a deflated cuff. A speaking valve has a one-way valve that opens with inspiration and closes with expiration, causing the air to flow out past the vocal cords to facilitate speech.

A speaking valve is safely used when the child:

has adequate air movement around the trach tube is able to tolerate the increased resistance from the speaking valve is awake and attempting to communicate has manageable secretions is supervised by an adult

Benefits of speaking valves include:

a louder voice clearer speech/voice normal passage of air through the throat and mouth improved ability to smell and taste reduced secretions improved protection of the airway during feeding and swallowing easier development of babbling (early speech sounds) in young babies easier language development in small children more efficient speech.

• Not all children will be able to produce vocal sounds immediately when the valve is placed on the tracheostomy tube.
• Not all children will tolerate using a speaking valve.
• The speaking valve cannot be used with an inflated cuffed tracheostomy tube.