PBX: 2218-2929
Voice and Swallowing
The larynx is a structure located in the neck with a triple function: producing the voice, swallowing (swallowing) and protecting the airway (preventing food from entering the lung). Alterations in any of these activities of the larynx require a careful study to achieve the detection, diagnosis and rehabilitation of Dysphonia and Dysphagia.
At the Head and Neck Clinical Center, we have sophisticated, modern and specific equipment for the diagnosis of these pathologies, at the same time, we perform procedures such as medialization of the vocal cords with hyaluronic acid and the injection of intralaryngeal botox, in addition to performing the therapeutic intervention in the rehabilitation of dysphagia and vocal readjustment, thus achieving a complete intervention to solve their voice and swallowing problems.
Medical studies
Flexible Nasolaryngoscopy:
Painless study performed by means of a special flexible camera to evaluate structures of the nose (septum, turbinates), adenoids, linear tonsils, base of tongue and larynx (vocal cords).
Rigid Laryngoscopy:
Painless study performed using a special rigid camera to evaluate structures of the nose (septum, turbinates), adenoids, linear tonsils, base of tongue and larynx (vocal cords).
Laryngostroboscopy:
A painless study performed using a specialized flexible camera that takes slow-motion shots of the vocal cords. The objective is to observe the movement of the vocal cords on a monitor to establish if there is any pathology that is disrupting the normal functioning of the vocal cords.
Voice Analysis:
Series of studies carried out by an expert that provides information on the acoustics of the voice through studies of the components of the voice: fundamental frequency, intensity, jitter, shimer, etc.
Functional Test of Swallowing Under Endoscopic Vision:
Dynamic swallowing study performed with the flexible fibrolaryngoscope, which evaluates the different phases of swallowing in real time with different types of food.
Voice therapy
What is voice therapy ?:
Voice therapy is the alternative to achieve efficiency in the production of verbal discourse, every professional in the use of the voice needs to keep their vocal structure in optimal conditions so as not to exhaust the resource on which they depend to work.
The goals of therapy can be summarized in the following sections:
1. That the person is able to use his voice in his routine activities / The effectiveness of the treatment will be noticed when the client uses his voice without the difficulties that he reported at the beginning of the treatment.
2. That the person can use their voice with a tone, volume and register that is easy for them to produce / The effectiveness of the treatment will be judged based on the comparison of the volume, tone and register at the end of the treatment with the data that was documented at the beginning of treatment.
3. Maintain voice quality for long periods of time / The effectiveness of the treatment will be shown if the client does not report dysphonia 6 months post therapy.
4. When speaking, the patient's voice maintains the structure and function of the normal larynx / This objective can be evaluated in those people in whom the structure and function of the larynx were abnormal in the pre- and post-treatment evaluation.
5. That the changes in the person's voice are perceptible with instrumental measures / The therapy is considered effective if there are obvious changes in the physiological and perceptual mechanisms of the voice that are reflected in instrumental mechanisms such as spectrograms.
In people who use the voice as a work tool (voice professionals), any change in the voice, whether temporary or permanent, requires attention.
Frequent questions
Can't they hear you when you speak?
Do you lose your voice throughout the day?
Pain and tension in the throat?
Shortness of breath when you speak?
Hacking or frequent coughing?
Sensation of a foreign body in the throat?
Is the tone of your voice no longer the same?
Can't scream or sing?
Are you suffering from reflux?
Are you hoarse for more than two weeks?
Swallowing Therapy
What is swallowing therapy ?:
Swallowing therapy includes dietary modifications, facilitating maneuvers, postural maneuvers and facilitating techniques in the ingestion of food through the mouth.
If dysphagia does not prevent oral feeding and there is no risk of aspiration, swallowing therapy is indicated.
Its use requires that the patient maintain minimal cognitive and motor functions, to use food, otherwise, it is necessary to preserve the muscular functions of the mouth, neck and tongue.
Symptoms of Dysphagia
- Hoarse or wet voice after swallowing.
- Pain when swallowing.
- Constant choking when eating.
- Sensation of choking when swallowing.
- Recurrent pneumonia.
- Difficulty chewing and swallowing.
- Weightloss.
- Inattention while eating or eating
- Tension of the body during feeding
- Refusing to eat food of different textures
- Long feeding or eating times (30 minutes or more)