Final answer:
It is true that a client cannot hum or speak if an endotracheal tube is properly placed in the trachea, as this prevents air from passing over the vocal cords and producing sound.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement asked about, 'Ask the client to hum or speak because the client will be unable to hum or speak if the tube is in the trachea,' is indeed true. When an endotracheal (ET) tube is placed in the trachea for airway management, especially during procedures like general anesthesia or for mechanical ventilation, the tube passes through the vocal cords. Therefore, the client would not be able to phonate or produce vocal sounds, including humming or speaking, as air would not be passing over the vocal cords in a way that facilitates sound production.
The ability to speak or hum requires that the vocal cords vibrate as air passes through them. An ET tube bypasses this mechanism by delivering air directly to the trachea and lungs, hence preventing any air from engaging the vocal cords. This check — asking a patient to hum or speak — is a quick bedside method to ensure that an ET tube is not mistakenly placed in the esophagus, where the ability to make noise might still be preserved.