We use our voices every day and take it for granted that it is our means of communication. However, voicing is a highly coordinated activity of the laryngeal muscles that requires anatomic and neurophysiologic integrity. Common diagnoses include vocal cord nodules, polyps, contact ulcers, vocal cord paralysis, papillomas, or cancer of the larynx. A thorough diagnostic evaluation is extremely important in reaching a diagnosis and developing an appropriate treatment plan. The Voice Center at West Virginia University offers a voice clinic two times per month.
Otolaryngology has state of the art equipment necessary for a thorough examination.
Patients are evaluated using laryngeal videostroboscopy, a technique that allows us to see subtle movements of the vocal cords that cannot be seen with the naked eye and also magnifies the picture so that we are able to examine the vocal cords in greater detail. Small lesions that can be missed using traditional laryngoscopy can be identified with videostroboscopy. 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.