Voice and Swallowing Disorders

The Voice Center at Greenwich Hospital offers state-of-the-art care for adults and teens suffering from voice and swallowing disorders. Our voice center provides sophisticated and expert care for all of our patients including performers, public speakers, teachers, fitness instructors and those with more routine or recreational vocal aspirations. Individuals experiencing any of the following symptoms may benefit from an evaluation at our center: raspy or hoarse voice, voice strain, voice spasms, reduced pitch range, voice pitch breaks, aging voice changes, difficulty swallowing, frequent throat clearing or the sensation of a lump in one’s throat (globus sensation).

Receiving the right diagnosis is the most critical step on your road to voice recovery. Our voice experts perform comprehensive evaluations utilizing the latest technologies, including laryngeal videostroboscopy and vocal acoustics analysis software, to ensure accurate and precise diagnosis.

Conditions we treat:

• Aging Voice: age-related changes such as voice roughness, elevated pitch and reduced projection or volume
• Laryngeal Papilloma: HPV-related growths involving the lining of the larynx or vocal folds which can result in hoarseness
• Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR): irritation of the throat and larynx caused by acid and/or non-acid reflux
• Laryngitis: inflammation of the larynx and vocal folds which usually results in hoarseness and sore throat
• Muscle Tension Dysphonia: hoarseness or discomfort relating to inappropriate use of muscles around the larynx during speech or singing
• Retrograde Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction ("No Burp Syndrome"): a lifelong inability to burp resulting in chest discomfort, stomach bloating, gurgling sounds in the throat and flatulence.
• Spasmodic Dysphonia: involuntary muscle contractions resulting in a strained, “strangled”, or nervous sounding voice
• Swallowing Disorders: dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) or odynophagia (pain when swallowing)
• Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD): uncoordinated vocal fold movements that can result in difficulty breathing, coughing, wheezing, throat tightness, hoarseness or voice changes
• Vocal Fold Paresis and Paralysis: impaired vocal fold motion due to damage or dysfunction of the vagus or recurrent laryngeal nerve, which causes a breathy voice and/or vocal fatigue
• Vocal Nodules, Cysts, and Polyps: benign growths or lesions on the vocal folds, which can impair normal vibration and result in hoarseness
• Vocal Tremor: involuntary rhythmic movements resulting in a quaver or trembling vocal quality

Our approach

Our patients receive interdisciplinary and coordinated care from a team of voice experts with advanced training in voice and swallowing (laryngeal) disorders. Your care team is led by a laryngologist who works closely with speech-language pathologists. Our laryngologists are specialize in ear, nose and throat (ENT) conditions and in treating the larynx, voice, and related problems such as swallowing.

Speech-language pathologists are state licensed and certified by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. They are clinically trained in voice and speech analysis and in customizing voice rehabilitation regimens for vocal hygiene, behavioral modification, circumlaryngeal massage and alternative therapies to optimize your voice outcome.

Using the latest technologies, we are able to ensure that each of our patients can visualize the mechanics of his or her own larynx in high definition and slow motion. This allows our patients to more fully understand treatment options and subsequent outcomes.

We offer voice therapy and medical management as an alternative to surgery whenever possible and appropriate. However, if a procedure or surgery is indicated, our laryngologist (ENT surgeon) will use the most advanced and minimally invasive techniques. Our specialists offer several treatments performed in the office. In-office procedures include KTP laser ablation, vocal augmentation injection, laryngeal electromyography (EMG) and botulinum toxin (Botox®) injections. Patients benefit from effective same-day treatments that require local or no anesthesia.

Above all, we treat our patients with dignity and compassion.

Specialty voice care for performers and public speakers

Our experts understand the unique demands and challenges professional vocalists, singers, performers, and public speakers face. We provide comprehensive and individualized medical treatment to get you back on track.

Telehealth

Yale New Haven Health’s Telehealth Services use audio and video technology, electronic medical records and other tools to make it easier for patients to receive expert care, no matter where they are. 

Find a voice specialist at Greenwich Hospital

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