Voice Clinic
Faculty:
The Purpose:
Promotion and preservation of vocal health are the goals of the multidisciplinary Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Voice Clinic. Individuals who have experienced a recent change in voice quality or who have become concerned about a long-standing problem with hoarseness benefit from the multidisciplinary voice assessment. Voice disorders affect individuals from all walks of life including singers, actors, teachers, business professionals, secretaries, laborers, and retirees, among many othe
The Evaluation:
Individuals who visit the voice clinic receive a thorough evaluation by an otolaryngologist and a team of speech pathologists. The otolaryngologist is a medical doctor who specializes in medical and surgical management of diseases of the larynx. The speech-language pathologists perform laryngeal videostroboscopy and laryngeal function studies in order to determine whether voice therapy should be a part of the patient's treatment program. At the completion of the Voice Clinic, the otolaryngologist and speech pathologists meet to discuss and study in detail the findings of each component of the evaluation in order to develop a consensus customized treatment plan for each patient.
The Plan of Treatment:
The recommended plan is then explained to the patient who then has an opportunity to ask questions. A summary letter is dictated which includes the substantive findings and recommendations of the clinic. A detailed summary of the evaluation along with a color photograph of the patient's larynx is also prepared. If medical treatment is recommended, prescriptions are provided. If surgery is needed, the recommended surgical procedure is explained in detail along with the indications, risks, contraindications, and anticipated outcomes. If voice therapy is needed, the rationale for the therapy is described and the patient is given the name of a speech-language pathologist who specializes in voice and who lives near the patients home or place of business. Need for follow-up evaluations or additional diagnostic testing may also be discussed.
Examples of Normal and Disordered Laryngeal Anatomy and Physiology:
Vocal fold vibratory function for voice is routinely evaluated in the voice clinic using videostroboscopic techniques. Normal laryngeal anatomy is characterized by smooth, white vocal folds that move symmetrically as the laryngeal musculature position the folds apart from each other (laryngeal abduction) for respiration or toward each other (laryngeal adduction) for voice production. In the normal individual, the vocal folds vibrate symmetrically and periodically during voice production:
In patients with disordered voices, vocal fold vibration may be abnormal due to growths on or around the vocal folds, neurological disorders resulting in abnormal muscle function or control, or abnormal habitual use of the laryngeal mechanism.
Patient Education Links
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