Why can't I speak after surgery?

Common reasons include a breathing tube (endotracheal tube) still in place or recently removed, a tracheostomy, swelling or soreness in the throat after airway surgery, or being too weak or groggy from anaesthesia. Some people also lose speech temporarily or permanently after a stroke (aphasia). Your care team can tell you whether your situation is expected to be temporary.

What is a communication board used for in hospital?

A communication board lets a patient who cannot speak point to or tap common needs (pain, water, bathroom, nurse, family) instead of having to talk. They are widely used in intensive care units for patients who are intubated or have had airway or throat surgery, and can reduce distress for both patients and the family members supporting them.

Does this replace calling for help in an emergency?

No. This board is a communication aid only. For any urgent symptom, especially difficulty breathing, use the nurse call button, call for help immediately, or dial emergency services. Do not rely on this tool alone in an emergency.

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Communication board

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For when you can't speak after surgery, intubation, or a tracheostomy

Free to use · Works offline · Nothing saved to a server

Tap a card to have it spoken aloud, or hold the screen up for someone to point at. This is for anyone temporarily unable to speak — a breathing tube, a tracheostomy, a sore or swollen throat after surgery, or a stroke — and for the family and nurses helping them.

Last said

Tap a card to speak

Card language — changes the label and the voice

Translations are simplified for clarity. For anything important, confirm understanding with a bilingual staff member or interpreter. Custom cards you add stay in the language you type them.

This board is a communication aid only. For any urgent symptom, especially difficulty breathing, use the nurse call button or call for help immediately — do not rely on this tool alone in an emergency.

Why a communication board helps

Being unable to speak is one of the most distressing parts of a hospital stay, both for patients and for the family trying to understand what they need. Communication boards are widely used in intensive care units for patients who are intubated, on a ventilator, or recovering from airway or throat surgery, letting them point to or tap a need instead of struggling to talk or write.

Why you might need this

Temporary loss of speech is common after a breathing tube is removed, with a tracheostomy (especially before a speaking valve is introduced), after major throat, neck or airway surgery, or following a stroke that affects speech. Your care team can tell you whether your situation is expected to be temporary and what support (such as a speech and language therapist) is available.

About this tool

This board is based on the kind of communication boards used across intensive care units, with guidance from the National Tracheostomy Safety Project and general speech-language therapy practice. Tapping a card reads it aloud using your device's own text-to-speech, and you can add your own cards for needs specific to you or your loved one. Everything is stored only on your device — nothing is uploaded or shared. The default cards can be shown and spoken in Mandarin, Vietnamese, Arabic, Spanish or Kannada using the card language picker above; for the rest of this page, use the translate option in the footer.

Sources: National Tracheostomy Safety Project · general ICU communication-aid practice · speech-language therapy guidance

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