Your voice is always tired and doesn’t sound right. Do you have a voice disorder? CEENTA’s voice and swallowing specialists can examine your voice and help determine what might be wrong with you. Read on to learn more about this procedure.Who would benefit from a voice evaluation? Anyone who experiences hoarseness or voice changes that do not improve within two weeks – such as difficulty projecting your voice, loss of singing range, vocal fatigue, chronic cough, difficulty with breath control, or throat pain/discomfort – should make an appointment with an ENT specialist. This doesn’t just include singers, public speakers, or others who use their voice professionally, but anyone whose voice sounds wrong. Why should I get my voice evaluated? Voice evaluation requires highly specialized ENT doctors and incorporates several different voice analysis methods. Medical history and listening to vocal exercises is important, but seeing the vocal folds to analyze the larynx is essential. A voice and swallowing specialist will perform a laryngeal videostroboscopic examination.These specialists can describe the functioning of the vocal folds, but your ENT doctor will determine the specific diagnosis after the exam. What is Laryngeal Videostroboscopy? A rigid scope is placed in the mouth or a flexible scope is placed in the nose.The rigid scope moves only to the back of the tongue so the vocal folds can be seen, while the flexible scope is placed through a numbed nose so that the entire larynx can be seen while the patient speaks and sings. Both exams are recorded. A strobing light allows the therapist to view the opening and closing of the vocal fold tissue.A regular light source cannot show this movement pattern because the vocal folds vibrate too quickly for the human eye to see. What happens after the exam? You and your doctor will discuss your results in detail. Your treatment plan may include a series of voice therapy sessions, either alone or in conjunction with medical management. What does the exam look like? You can view an examination in action on our Facebook page. This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your physician. To make an appointment with an ENT doctor or voice and swallowing specialist, call 704-295-3000.
