What are the some of the problems faced by people who have undergone a laryngectomy?

Individuals who have undergone a laryngectomy (surgical removal of the larynx) face many problems and lifestyle changes as a result of this surgery. Clients must breathe through a tracheotomy, which is an opening in the trachea, created during a surgical procedure called a tracheostomy. Some of the problems that result from this procedure include the following:

? Loss of phonation
? Difficulty coughing and eliminating phlegm from the airway
? Need to avoid swimming or any other activities that expose the stoma to water or pollutants
? Need to give away house pets that shed hair, because hair can be caught in the person's unprotected airway
? Difficulty enjoying the flavor of different foods, because the person cannot breathe through his or her nose
? Dryness of the oral tissues due to salivary gland damage that occurs when radiation is required following surgery
? Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), which results from severe oral dryness
? Risk of aspiration if food or fluids accidentally enter the stoma