Voice Program

How the Voice Program Helps

In the Voice Program our pediatric otolaryngologists and speech pathologists treat a wide variety of functional and structural voice conditions. The strength of the program is the close coordination between ENT and speech pathology, which allows children to receive a full evaluation and treatment recommendation during one office visit.

Once we diagnose and identify the reason for your child's voice problem, we can develop a treatment plan that addresses the cause as well as long-term management of the condition. We also monitor your child's progress at 6-month intervals.

During your child's clinic visit, we perform a full otolaryngologic examination including videolaryngoscopy with stroboscopy and complete voice evaluation — we see, hear and record what happens to the vocal cords when your child makes a sound.

Symptoms we treat:

• Rough or hoarse voice quality
• Noisy breathing, especially during exercise/activity
• Vocal cord movement problems
• Vocal cord paralysis
• Voice changes related to heart conditions
• Voice concerns related to other medical problems
• Growths on vocal cords
• Changes in singing or talking voice 
• Tension disorders that affect voice, cough and swallow

Conditions commonly treated in the Voice Program include:

• Voice and resonance disorders, such as vocal nodules and cysts
• Difficulty in professional voice use including for actors and singers
• Vocal cord paralysis that may cause a weak breathy voice and possible aspiration
• Chronic cough not related to lung problem alone
• Suspected laryngopharyngeal reflux (gastroesophageal reflux disease involving the upper and/or lower airway)
• Suspected paradoxical vocal cord motion or vocal cord paralysis

Hoarseness (dysphonia) and vocal nodules are the most common problems we see in the clinic. Nodules, like a callus, can cause severe hoarseness and even complete loss of voice. Voice therapy to treat the problem and the cause involves conducting a vocal quality assessment, learning behaviors to avoid straining the voice (vocal abuse) and other habits to preserve your child's voice.