Unfortunately, this course and outcome are not always true of voice patients. In some cases, it is necessary for patients to discontinue teaching during the early stages of voice therapy to allow some natural healing to occur. This in turn helps to insure the voice therapy will have a reasonable chance of achieving success. In other instances, treatment must extent for a longer period of time and amplification may be a necessary component to teaching, even after treatment has ended. In voice patients with GERD, treatment may be longer and also involve close medical supervision.
Teachers are a vital force in American society.
We have enormous need for more and better teachers. Unfortunately, teachers also are susceptible to serious problems affecting their most precious tool, the speaking voice. Prompt and proper voice evaluation and therapy can often eliminate the need for laryngeal surgery and can do much to restore a teacher to full effectiveness within the classroom.