Theme | Sub-topics | Observations |
Changes of mindset | Pain | Inability to speak; loss of loved jobs; a cancer patient |
Humiliation | Bad appearance; cough with sputum | |
Helplessness | Feeling like a mute at the beginning; esophageal speech sounds like a robot; inability to argue but to swallow an insult | |
Optimism | Taking initiative to try new things; face life with a positive attitude | |
Showing positive attitudes and behaviors in training | Mutual support | Model and communicate in the sound lab; create a Wechat and QQ group |
Voluntary training | Stick to the training plan themselves; under the guidance of trainers, patients practice esophageal speech in their preferred ways | |
“Resocialization” | After successfully acquiring ES, patients return back to their jobs, gatherings, and other social activities | |
Shift in social relations | Alienation | Inability to speak; friends encourage less talk for fear of fatigue; embarrassment about special treatment from friends |
Social interaction limitations | Low volume of ES causes difficulty in arguing when irritated. Emotionless speech mistaken for rudeness or hostility | |
Discrimination | Patients are called mutes and treated with less patience. Getting trash talk and unfair distance from other people | |
New connections | Patients bind together to gather, travel, and socialize | |
Arduous training process | Physical discomfort | Stomach flatulence and increased nasal mucus |
Negative life events | Long commute; forced resignation; lonely life | |
Various assisting methods | Applying various assisting methods for voice production to increase communication with speech | |
Dissatisfaction | Feeling unsatisfied with ES training program |