Voice Treatment

Depending on the severity of a patient’s voice problem, voice treatment will vary from patient to patient. Generally, though, the goal of voice treatment is to correct and restore the best voice possible. This means a voice that will be functional for purpose of employment and general communication. Voice treatment should be rooted in and derived from an understanding of laryngeal anatomy and phonatory physiology. Accurate diagnosis of voice disorders is paramount in planning ones treatment. It is also important to realize there are disparate approaches that are implemented for various disorders based on their own individual assumption concerning the disorder. The way that therapeutic techniques are utilized will differ from clinician to clinician with the awareness that one particular treatment could possibly contribute to hyper functional problems.

Voice Treatment Options

Depending on your diagnosis, your surgeon may recommend one or more treatments:

• Rest, liquids, and voice therapy. Like any other part of the body, the vocal cords need regular rest and fluids. Pathology specialists can teach a you how to use and rest your voice, how to properly clear your throat, and how much liquid to drink.
• Allergy treatments. If an allergy is creating too much mucus in your throat,  allergists can identify the cause and provide treatment.
• Smoking cessation. If your voice problem is the result of smoking,  Nicotine Dependence Center offer programs that help address tobacco use.
• Medications. Several medications are available for treating voice disorders. They can be taken orally, injected into the vocal cords, or applied topically during surgery.

Voice Treatment Surgery

Surgery may be recommended for a number of voice conditions. These include:

• To remove lesions. Noncancerous lesions (polyps, nodules, and cysts) on the vocal cords can form after months or years of voice misuse. Sometimes they occur in combination with respiratory infections. They may need to be surgically removed. Surgeons can remove noncancerous, precancerous, and cancerous lesions including recurrent respiratory papillomatosis and white patches (leukoplakia) by using microsurgery, carbon dioxide laser surgery, or even the newest laser treatments such as potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser.
• To decrease or stop muscle spasms. Botox injections can decrease muscle spasms or abnormal movements for people who have a neurological movement disorder that affects the vocal muscles of the larynx (spasmodic dysphonia). Tiny amounts of purified botulinum toxin relax muscles for up to five months.
• To treat vocal cord paralysis. Sometimes one vocal cord may stop moving. Individuals with one paralyzed vocal cord often complain of hoarseness. They may also complain of choking when they drink liquids, but they rarely have trouble swallowing solid foods. Sometimes the problem goes away over time. If not, one of two procedures can be used to push the paralyzed vocal cord closer to the middle of the windpipe so that the vocal cords can meet. This improves the voice and allows the larynx to close when you swallow. These treatments include:

1. Injection. Body fat or collagen (a synthetic material) is injected to add bulk to the paralyzed vocal cord, either through your mouth or the skin on your neck. The material fills the vocal cord and pushes it to the middle. Injection is done in the office or operating room. Injection is also used to treat vocal cord weakness.
2. Thyroplasty (surgery). A small opening is created in the cartilage from the outside of your voice box. The surgeon inserts a piece of solid silicone through the opening and pushes it against the paralyzed vocal cord, moving the vocal cord to the middle.

Our Network

MedCareLink has partnered with highly skilled voice treatment doctors and surgeons that work out of internationally accredited hospitals and clinics worldwide. Our aim is to help our patients seek the best voice treatment options at affordable prices.

Feel free to contact us now. If you are in the USA or Canada, call us toll free at 1.888.832.2089. If you are calling from an international location, please dial us directly at 1.949.783.6827. You can also click on CONTACT US in the menu above and submit your information in the contact form..