Laryngectomee: An individual who has undergone the removal of their (). In a partial laryngectomy, the voice is preserved as the surgeon takes out only a portion of the voice box, such as one vocal cord, part of a cord, or just the epiglottis. The stoma is temporary, and after a short recovery, the tracheostomy tube is taken out, allowing the stoma to close. The person is then able to breathe and speak normally, though sometimes the voice may be hoarse or weak. Conversely, in a total laryngectomy, the entire voice box is removed, resulting in a permanent stoma. The individual, known as a laryngectomee, breathes through this stoma and must learn to speak using air from the esophagus, an external device, or an implanted one.
