Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

D. Wayne Tidwell Voice, Speech and Swallowing Center at Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth specializes in advanced diagnostic and therapeutic services to individuals of all ages who present with a variety of voice disorders.

Who might experience a voice disorder?

Persons dependent on voice use for their livelihood. These may include professional and non-professional singers, teachers, clergy, attorneys, sales representatives, actors, broadcasters, hair stylists, trainers, athletes, coaches, school-aged children, caregivers, professionals whose jobs require talking above background noise, or any individual experiencing vocal problems.

What medical conditions are associated with voice disorders?

• Chronic hoarseness
• Vocal cord dysfunction (often misdiagnosed as asthma)
• Reflux disease
• Chronic cough
• Benign vocal cord lesions (i.e., nodules, polyps, cysts, granulomas)
• Spasmodic dysphonia
• Vocal cord paralysis
• Parkinson's disease
• Head and neck cancer

What is voice therapy?

Rehabilitating injured voices, optimizing voice production, and teaching preventative care of the voice.

Who would benefit from a voice evaluation and treatment?

Individuals with persistent hoarseness, chronic cough, throat pain/discomfort, vocal strain, chronic throat clearing, changes in vocal quality, or problems with singing voice.

What does an evaluation include?

The patient should be prepared to answer questions about medical history, surgical history, allergies, medications, vocal use, diet, daily water intake, and vocal symptoms. After a thorough case history is obtained, an acoustical and perceptual analysis of the voice will be completed. A videostroboscopy examination, the "gold standard" in laryngological care, is often performed. Videostroboscopy simulates vibration of the vocal cords in slow-motion while the patient vocalizes.

What is vocal rehabilitation?

A specialized treatment program tailored to suit each individual's needs that may include:

• vocal hygiene
• respiratory/diaphragmatic breathing
• relaxation/elimination of upper body tension
• coordination of breathing and voicing
• eliminating vocal abuse/misuse behaviors
• management of vocal demands
• pre- and post-operative care

Is your voice healthy?

• Do you feel effort to speak?
• Do you have a persistent unexplained cough?
• Does your voice fatigue by the end of the day?
• Have you been hoarse for longer than 2 weeks?
• Do you frequently lose your voice?
• Has your voice changed and now sounds "different" to you?
• Does your throat hurt in the absence of a cold or allergies?
• Does your voice sound too high-pitched, low-pitched, or breathy?
• Do you often feel something is in your throat and needs to be cleared?

If you have answered "yes" to any of these questions, call 1.800.4BAYLOR for more information or to schedule a voice evaluation. Insurance coverage is often provided.