Special Device Lets Vent Patient Speak

Our inpatient Jessica, who is on a ventilator, could not make sounds. That is, until our speech pathologist switched out Jessica’s standard tracheotomy cannula (tube) with a special tube that allows speech. Jessica started off tolerating the new tube for 10 minutes and gradually increased her time with it to eight hours. This video shows Jessica’s delight with the gift of speech—and scent—that this innovation allows.