Services
Speech, Swallowing & Throat Disorders
Several conditions contribute to difficulty speaking and swallowing, hoarseness, voice loss and cough. We evaluate the throat and larynx (voice box) with in-office video imaging using a small fiberoptic camera. Known as a fiberoptic endoscope, the camera is passed through the nose and down the back of the throat for a bird’s eye view of the important structures in the throat and larynx. A mild numbing agent is sprayed into the nose making the procedure relatively painless. You may watch the procedure on one of the monitors in the room. The entire procedure takes only a few minutes and provides valuable information in the diagnosis and treatment of your presenting problem. If necessary a longer endoscope may be passed through the nose and down to the stomach to evaluate intestinal causes of your throat problem. Common disorders affecting the throat include:
- Throat infection
- Nasal or sinus infection
- Foreign objects (e.g. fish bone)
- Allergic rhinitis
- Acid reflux disease
- Obstructive lung disease (e.g. asthma)
- Structural abnormalities (e.g. Zenker’s diverticulum)
- Vocal cord injury or paralysis
- Enlarged thyroid
- Neck or throat tumor