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Need to See a Voice Doctor?

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Do You Suffer From Voice Issues?

The physicians of Capital ENT and Sinus Center in Austin and Lakeway, Texas provide comprehensive care of the voice. Our voice is the instrument we use to communicate to our friends, family, and co-workers. If that instrument isn’t working, it affects everything we do.

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What Are the Most Common Voice Complaints?

Hoarseness

Vocal cord tumors, swelling, reflux, or allergies can all result in hoarseness. A careful assessment of all of these factors is important to find a cure. We perform painless fiber optic evaluation in the office to examine the vocal cords and direct the right treatment.

Vocal Nodules

Small nodules can develop on the vocal cords and cause hoarseness. These typically occur with overuse of the voice and are often called singer’s nodules. Early nodules may respond to medical treatment and speech therapy. More mature nodules can be removed with delicate microsurgery on an outpatient basis with significant voice improvement.

Vocal Polyps and Cysts

Lesions can grow on or under the lining of the vocal cords causing a deep, breathy hoarseness. Specialized microsurgery to remove the lesions under microscopic guidance is used to restore the voice.

Chronic Cough

One of the most frustrating conditions for patients is a chronic cough. Strong coughing spells can disrupt sleep, cause respiratory distress, and lead to embarrassing social situations. Many factors need to be addressed to identify the cause and relieve this problem. We frequently see patients who have been frustrated by this condition for years without relief. We have a comprehensive and step-by-step plan to finally provide relief for these patients.

Vocal Cancer

Cancer of the vocal cords can occur in any person, but is particularly common in people that smoke. Early diagnosis can make less invasive treatment options available. Frequently the patient will experience persistent hoarseness or change in vocal quality with no other symptom. If you are concerned about the possibility of vocal cord cancer, the specialists at Capital ENT and Sinus Center can perform painless fiber optic endoscopy in the office to evaluate the cords in the office setting.

Weak Voice

The muscles of the vocal cords can weaken over time as we age. A patient’s voice may not project with the confidence they require. Children may have difficulty hearing their grandparents. We can perform outpatient procedures to bulk up the vocal cords and increase the vocal strength.

Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis

The human papilloma virus (HPV or wart virus) may cause warty growths on the vocal cords. These growths cause hoarseness and may cause difficulty breathing. The warty growths may spread to involve the entire respiratory lining if they are not identified and treated. Outpatient microsurgery can safely remove these warty growths. Local injections of vaccines may be placed in the vocal cords in refractory cases.

Vocal Paralysis

One of the vocal cords may become paralyzed causing a weak voice, hoarseness, and a weak cough. This may have been following neck surgery, secondary to other diseases like diabetes, or may occur because of a viral infection. Many times the cord will return to normal function naturally. Outpatient surgical procedures can be performed to improve the voice if the cord doesn’t return over time.

Spasmodic Dsyphonia

In this condition, the voice is spastic with interruptions and breaks in speech. The nervous control of the vocal cords is dysfunctional. We can perform a simple office procedure in which BOTOX® is injected into the vocal cord. This injection usually causes months of improved vocal quality. The procedure is repeated as necessary and typically is more effective over time.

Vocal Cord Dysfunction

Patients with this condition may have difficulty breathing similar to asthma. Often, they are initially diagnosed with asthma and do not to respond to medications as expected. Patients with this disorder involuntarily close their vocal cords, preventing deep breathing. At Capital ENT and Sinus Center, we can identify this condition and treat the underlying medical conditions.

Do You Need a Voice Evaluation?

In order to view the vocal cords in great detail, Capital ENT and Sinus Center offers videostroboscopy, a specialized diagnostic procedure that looks at the fine vibrations of the vocal cords using a flexible or rigid telescope. Flashes of light that are synchronized with the vocal fold vibrations allow the examiner to see the fine movements of the vocal fold edges in slow motion, thus being able to view the vocal cords in great detail. The procedure is painless and is done in the office, sometimes requiring topical numbing spray for those with strong gag reflexes.

Capital ENT and Sinus Center ENT Throat Specialists in Austin
LEARN MORE ABOUT THROAT & VOICE CARE

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that can worsen over time and become life threatening when not treated.

Snoring Issues

Injection snoreplasty is a minimally invasive treatment for snoring with little to no pain involved.

Voice Care

Our voice is the instrument we use to communicate to our friends, family, and co-workers. If that instrument isn’t working, it affects everything we do.

Tonsillectomy

A tonsillectomy can now be performed as an outpatient procedure with modern techniques to reduce the pain and speed up recovery.

Personal Care with Maximum Comfort

We are here to serve you and want you to know that our standard of patient care is the same standard we would apply to our own families. Our voice care doctors are committed to providing you with timely and complete personalized care integrated with maximum comfort, convenience, and privacy.

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