Normal speech for patients with laryngeal webs: an achievable goal.

Normal speech as well as an improved airway is now an achievable goal in the treatment of laryngeal webs. Seven acquired webs and 3 congenital webs were seen at the North Carolina Baptist Hospital/Bowman Gray School of Medicine. The speech of 6 patients was tested preoperatively and again postoperatively: speech was considered normal postoperatively in 5 patients without the need for speech therapy; normal in the sixth patient after 6 sessions of speech therapy. The authors' preferred method of treatment is development of an endolaryngeal mucosal flap with a variable beam CO2 laser under operating microscopic control.