Effective rehabilitation of pulmonary function and speech are both essential and challenging for patients after a total laryngectomy. A total laryngectomy is a surgical procedure in which the larynx –an organ containing the vocal cords- is removed, and the windpipe is connected to the base of the neck, forming a permanent tracheostoma through which the patient breathes. Commonly used medical devices that aid laryngectomized patients in their rehabilitation are heat and moisture exchangers (HMEs) and hands-free automatic speaking valves (ASVs) which can be fixated in front of the tracheostoma opening with various fixation methods such as an adhesive. Since laryngectomized patients remain dependent on these medical devices on a daily basis and for long periods after surgery, further improvements or effective alternatives to the current medical devices could significantly impact their speech and pulmonary rehabilitation and, consequently, their quality of life. The thesis is divided into three sections. The first section gives insight into the experienced issues and their impact on the quality of life of laryngectomized patients with an international survey. Experienced pulmonary issues (such as coughing and forced expectoration of mucus) might be an underlying cause of many other experienced issues and thus negatively affect the quality of life after total laryngectomy. The second section provides practical recommendations on how the humidification performance and general functionality of the small passive HMEs can be improved. The third section presents studies aimed at improving the existing fixation methods to promote the use of regular hands-free speech in laryngectomized patients.