The patient’s first visit to UT Southwestern’s Clinical Center for Voice Care will include an evaluation by one of our physicians, who will perform a head and neck examination and listen to the patient’s voice. The physician may conduct a videostroboscopy examination to determine whether there is a problem with the vocal cords. This procedure involves shining a strobe light on the vocal cords while observing their vibrations on a video monitor. The procedure allows the physician to see changes on the vocal cords that may interfere with sound production.

Dr. Ted Mau performs a videostroboscopic examination of the vocal cords.

The physician may then recommend a more in-depth voice evaluation by one of our speech-language pathologists with expertise in voice disorders (voice therapist). During the first session, the voice therapist gathers information such as the patient’s current voice problem and voice use patterns. During this initial evaluation, the patient speaks into a microphone and the voice is analyzed by a computer program. The voice therapist can then provide specific details about the patient’s problem and exercises may be given to improve the voice.

Voice therapy consists of a wide variety of treatments tailored to the patient’s particular voice issue. Therapy may include exercises designed to:

• Improve respiratory support for voice and speech.
• Increase voice endurance and strength.
• Improve voice quality.
• Increase vocal range when applicable.
• Reduce tension in the laryngeal and extra-laryngeal musculature system to increase
  ease of speech.

Most voice problems can be corrected or significantly improved with therapy alone. Others can be addressed with minimally-invasive surgery or procedures performed in the clinic, such as injections for spasmodic dysphonia and vocal cord paralysis.