The specialists in WMCHealth’s ear, nose, and throat (ENT) department provide a critical service to individuals with disorders of the voice, upper airway, and trachea. Our nationally recognized Voice and Swallowing Program is led by experienced and highly trained speech and language pathologists (SLPs).
Symptoms of Voice and Swallowing Conditions
- Extra effort or time needed to chew or swallow
- Recurring pneumonia or chest congestion after eating
- Weight loss or dehydration from not being able to eat enough
- Wet or gurgling-sounding voice during or after eating or drinking
- Food or liquid leaking from the mouth or getting stuck in the mouth
- Coughing during or immediately after eating
- Dry, scratchy throat
- Hoarse voice
- Sore throat
Voice and Swallowing Conditions Treated at WMCHealth
The voice and swallowing team cares for voice, swallowing, and airway disorders. Our goal is to restore your ability to communicate, eat, drink, and breathe comfortably. We specialize in treating the following conditions:
- Dysphagia
- Laryngeal cancer
- Laryngeal trauma
- Recurrent laryngitis
- Zenker’s diverticulum
- Tracheostomy care
- Pediatric voice disorders
- Age-related voice change
- Neurological voice disorders
- Tracheal or glottic stenosis
- Chronic cough or throat pain
- Vocal fold paresis and paralysis
- Paradoxical Vocal Fold Motion (PVFM)
- Vocal fold lesions, edema and scarring
- Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPR)
- Exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO)
- Voice disorders related to Parkinson’s disease
- Care of the professional voice and singing difficulties
Voice and Swallowing Program Treatments
Voice Therapy
Voice therapy focuses on improving vocal function and communication through techniques and exercises to relieve hoarseness and vocal fatigue. It can also be helpful to those recovering from vocal trauma, and people who use their voices heavily, such as singers and public speakers.
Behavioral Cough Suppression Therapy
Behavioral cough suppression therapy is used to bring relief to patients with chronic cough. It helps reduce the urge to cough and the frequency of coughing, which can disrupt daily activities and cause discomfort, fatigue, and hoarseness.
Respiratory Retraining Therapy
Respiratory retraining therapy improves breathing patterns in individuals with upper airway conditions, such as inducible laryngeal obstruction and laryngospasm. This therapy can help improve breathing, reduce shortness of breath and coughing, and improve overall quality of life.
Gender and Identity-affirming Behavioral Voice Treatment
Gender and identity-affirming behavioral voice treatment is a specialized therapy designed to help transgender and non-binary individuals achieve a voice that aligns with their identity. This therapy addresses physical and behavioral aspects of the voice.
Swallowing Therapy
Swallowing therapy, also known as dysphagia therapy, is used to help individuals having trouble swallowing food or liquid. Dysphagia can occur for various reasons, including neurological disorders, stroke, or cancer.