The examination is videotaped so that it can be reviewed later by the physician and the patient. This provides important visual feedback for patients, greatly enhancing their understanding of their vocal cord problem and often facilitates better compliance with the plan of treatment. The SpeechViewer Computer system is utilized to obtain objective information about pitch, intensity, and vocal quality. Different behaviors that can affect voice production are reviewed and suggestions specific to each patient's needs are made. Ongoing therapy is sometimes recommended and is scheduled at times convenient for the patient.
Eating is so automatic that most people take it for granted.
Swallowing involves a complex sequence of nerve, muscle, and central nervous system interactions. Mechanical disorders are most often associated with surgery for cancer. Muscle and nerve disorders may include myasthenia gravis, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, stroke, and head injury. Dysphagia also occurs in children and infants. There is an increasing percentage of this population who are confronted with significant medical problems.