Treatments

Below are some examples of the medical and surgical treatment offered at the University Voice Center.

• Digital videostrobolaryngoscopy is the most advanced technique for diagnosing and treating disorders of the larynx. It aids the doctors in diagnosis of even the most subtle problems.
• Botulinum toxin injections into the larynx are a medical therapy we provide for treatment of patients with spasmodic dysphonia, a voice disorder that causes strangled speech.
• Laryngeal reflux can be the cause of symptoms such as hoarseness, sore throat, cough, throat clearing, and loss of singing registers. Our center can make a diagnosis of reflux and prescribe treatment or work with your Gastroenterologist to optimize your reflux treatment.
• Microsurgical techniques are used to remove lesions on the larynx and restore the voice.

Speech and Language Services
Speech therapy helps people who have trouble talking to other people. The services we provide include evaluation and treatment of speech, language, and hearing problems in adults. Speech therapy may be the only treatment needed for some voice disorders and also is used to aid in recovery after surgery of the larynx. We can arrange for speech therapy or voice coaching through several sources.

Computerized Voice Analysis
The University Voice Center utilizes the latest in computer voice analysis to pinpoint flaws in the singing and speaking voice. These tools aid the staff in diagnosing all types of voice disorders. The various components of the voice analyses display the results in visual imagery. Subtle voice problems can be objectively diagnosed and progress in voice therapy can be easily monitored by using this sensitive program.

Voice Intervention
It has been said, "The voice is the barometer of the soul." Unhealthy vocal folds can play tricks on the ear causing us to sound old when we are actually young, tired when we are rested, and ill when we are healthy. The voice can be overused, misused, and abused with predictable consequences. We can help you learn to prevent, reduce, and often eliminate voice problems through simple intervention.

Treatment Options

Medical:
Various types of medications can improve different laryngeal disorders. These medications will be explained to you at length during you office visit and educational handouts will be provided.

Surgical Intervention:
After all conservative measures have been exhausted, a surgical procedure may be recommended to improve the vocal effects of your laryngeal disorder.

Fat Injection Thyroplasty:
A procedure used for augmentation of the vocal folds to achieve better laryngeal closure. The benefits include using your own tissue, therefore diminishing side
effects.

Gore-Tex® Thyroplasty:
This procedure is used to close a bigger laryngeal gap. The technique involves insertion of a Gore-Tex implant through a small incision in the neck.

Botox®:
This procedure is typically performed in the office using a flexible scope to look at the larynx or an electromicrogram, as a guide for injecting the Botox® into the vocal folds.  Dr. Deems is a specialist in Botox therapy, and has published extensively on the topic in “Care of the Professional Voice”.

 

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