Voice and swallowing problems can affect your daily life in significant ways. Our ear, nose and throat (ENT) experts offer specialized care to help you find answers and relief.
We specialize in diagnosing and treating voice and swallowing conditions using detailed evaluation to understand what’s causing symptoms and how best to treat them.
Our Approach to Voice and Swallow Care
Not all ear, nose and throat conditions are the same. Voice and swallowing disorders often need specialized evaluation and treatment that go beyond routine ENT care.
Our team of laryngologists and speech-language pathologists has advanced training in laryngeal and swallowing conditions, allowing us to diagnose subtle issues that may not be visible during a standard exam. We use detailed testing to understand what is causing symptoms.
Because these conditions can overlap with lung, digestive or cancer-related concerns, we regularly work with other MU Health Care specialists like pulmonologists, gastroenterologists and oncologists. This team-based approach supports precise diagnosis and thoughtful treatment planning.
Conditions We Treat
Our care focuses on conditions that affect how the voice and throat work, including both voice and swallowing disorders.
Common symptoms include changes in voice quality, difficulty swallowing, throat or ear pain and breathing discomfort. Understanding these symptoms helps our team determine appropriate care.
Common voice and swallowing conditions we treat include:
- Vocal cord paralysis
- Vocal cord nodules and polyps
- Vocal cord papillomas
- Muscle tension dysphonia
- Laryngeal cancer
- Laryngitis
- Chronic cough
- Airway narrowing
- Paradoxical vocal cord motion (PVCM)
- Swallowing disorders (dysphagia, Zenker's diverticulum, R-CPD, cricopharyngeal dysfunction)
Voice and Swallowing Tests and Treatments
Diagnostic tests to pinpoint voice and swallowing conditions include:
- Flexible laryngoscopy with stroboscopy: This exam uses a thin, flexible scope passed through the nose to closely examine the voice box. Stroboscopy allows us to see how the vocal cords move, helping identify subtle problems that affect voice quality.
- Modified barium swallow study: During this test, you swallow food and liquid mixed with barium while imaging tracks how they move. It helps evaluate how the tongue, throat and larynx work together during swallowing.
- Esophagram: An imaging study that looks at how food and liquid move from the throat to the stomach. It can help detect narrowing, diverticula or movement problems in the esophagus.
- Esophageal manometry: Uses a thin catheter inserted through the nose to measure muscle coordination and contractions in the esophagus.
- CT scans of the airway: Create detailed images of the throat and airway to help identify narrowing, growths or structural changes that may be affecting breathing, voice or swallowing.
MU Health Care offers the following treatment for voice and swallowing conditions:
- Botox injections: Botox can help relax overactive muscles in the voice box or throat. This treatment may improve voice strain, spasms or certain swallowing difficulties.
- Endoscopic laser procedures: These minimally invasive procedures use a laser through a scope to treat abnormal tissue in the voice box or upper airway. They can help improve breathing, voice quality or swallowing without large incisions.
- Esophageal dilation: Gently stretches narrowed areas of the esophagus to help improve swallowing when food feels stuck or difficult to pass.
- Fillers or implants for vocal cord support: Help improve vocal cord closure to strengthen the voice, reduce breathiness and improve swallowing safety in some conditions.
- Open and endoscopic Zenker’s diverticulum repair: These procedures treat a pouch that can form in the upper esophagus. Repair can reduce regurgitation, coughing and difficulty swallowing.
- Voice therapy with specialized speech-language pathologists: Voice therapy focuses on healthy voice use and muscle coordination. It can help reduce strain, improve endurance and support recovery for many voice conditions.
Why Choose MU Health Care for Voice and Swallowing Care
- Coordinated care for laryngeal cancer: We work closely with oncology, radiation oncology and surgical specialists to support patients with laryngeal cancer. This collaboration allows care decisions to be guided by multiple areas of expertise, with clear communication across your care team. Our focus is on thoughtful evaluation and coordinated treatment planning.
- Specialized expertise in voice care: Voice care requires different training than general speech therapy. Our speech-language pathologists focus specifically on voice and swallowing conditions, rather than speech development or stroke recovery. This specialized expertise helps address the unique muscle coordination and vocal demands involved in healthy voice use.
- A local hub for voice and swallowing care: We provide a range of diagnostic testing and treatment options for voice and swallowing conditions under one roof. This allows many patients to receive specialized care closer to home, rather than traveling to larger metro areas. Our goal is to help you find answers and next steps without unnecessary delays.
