Voice Care for Everyone

At the Duke Voice Care Center, we treat voice, swallowing, and airway disorders.

SWALLOWING:
Swallowing – The vocal cords adduct (or come together) and a precise sequence of muscular contraction occurs each time we swallow. If a person develops difficulty with the vocal cords or structures in the larynx (voice box), swallowing may be impaired. Common symptoms of swallowing include:

• Coughing or throat clearing after sips of liquid or bites of food
• Wet gurgly vocal quality after swallowing
• Feeling of foods getting “stuck” when swallowing

Treatment may involve medical, surgical, or behavioral modifications. Often a speech pathologist can provide modifications and/or exercises which will improve swallowing function.

AIRWAY (BREATHING):
Because the larynx (voice box) is the gateway to our trachea (windpipe) and lungs, the vocal cords are not only responsible for the sound we produce when we speak, but the vocal cords protect our airway when we swallow.  Some conditions which affect our breathing are a result of an obstruction or impedance in the upper airway

• Foreign objects
• Lesions or masses in the throat or airway
• Narrowing of the airway/trachea
• Paradoxical vocal cord dysfunction (VCD)

Treatment may involve medical, surgical or behavior modifications.  A physician will treat any obstructions to the airway requiring removal.  A speech pathologist will address problems such as VCD, where exercises and breathing strategies can alleviate symptoms.

VOICE:
We see a wide range of vocal problems, some with visible signs in the larynx, some without any obvious lesion.

Common Voice Problems We Treat:

• Benign vocal cord lesions
• Neurologic voice disorders
• Traumatic voice disorders
• Irritative voice disorders
• Systemic disease affecting the voice (amyloidosis etc)