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Evaluation and Treatment of Voice Disorders Part 2 Treatment of Common Disorders of the Voice
Robert Sataloff, M.D., is Professor of otolaryngology, head and neck Surgery – Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA; adjunct professor of otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery – University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Sataloff notes that treating voice disorders has become a subspecialty of otolaryngology and that advanced diagnostic technology and interdisciplinary teams have led to dramatic advances in the standard of care. He discusses the causes of voice abuse and misuse and the numerous structural abnormalities, such as voice nodules that can occur in the vocal folds. Diagnosing nodules calls for strobovideolaryngoscopy and optical magnification in voice disorders, which can also differentiate them from vocal fold cysts. Treatment options include voice therapy and, more controversially, laser surgery. Treatment of sessile or pedunculated vocal fold polyps is discussed, as are the characteristics, causes, and treatment of Reinke's edema and laryngeal papillomas, the latter being treated by surgery. The author discusses the good prognosis for cancer of small vocal folds, noting the popularity in the US of strobovideolaryngology for follow- up of cancer patients. Infection and inflammation of the vocal tract include tonsillitis, halitosis, sinusitis, and laryngitis in vocal disorders, while systemic conditions include aging, and respiratory dysfunction such as that caused by asthma or emphysema. Hyperthyroidism's mechanism in producing voice disorders is well-recognized, says the author, but not well-understood. Read More from Dr. Sataloff and the Journal of Voice. |
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