At Westside Head and Neck, we will provide you with expert, state-of-the art care for voice, swallowing, and airway disorders. We believe in a multidisciplinary approach involving medical treatment, minimally-invasive surgery when necessary, and voice therapy in Los Angeles.
We offer specialized diagnostic tools and therapy for people with voice problems caused by benign growths or lesions (nodules, polyps, cysts, papillomas, granulomas, vascular lesions, scar or sulcus), chronic or acute laryngitis, the aging voice, spasmodic dysphonia, vocal cord paralysis, muscle tension dysphonia, laryngopharyngeal reflux, cancer of the larynx, and neurologic conditions affecting the larynx. We care for professional voice users, including singers, actors, teachers, and attorneys. For patients with breathing or swallowing problems, we provide diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Patients receive a comprehensive evaluation of vocal function including analysis of speech and voice quality and videostroboscopic examination of the larynx. Laryngeal Videostroboscopy is a routine, non-painful component of this evaluation and allows the physician to assess the laryngeal anatomy, pliability of the vocal folds, and motion of the vocal cords. This can be done using a rigid or flexible endoscope, and topical anesthetic is routinely used. After the evaluation, a management and treatment plan is developed with the patient. This may include in-office procedures, medication, voice therapy, or surgery.
At Westside Face, our specialized ENT doctors in Los Angeles specialize in treating muscle tension dysphonia. Muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) is a voice disorder due to extreme tension in the larynx (voice box). There are two types: primary and secondary. With primary MTD, muscles around the voice box are so tight, one is unable to speak properly. With secondary MTD, your voice box has an abnormality which causes increased use of muscles to compensate for the adverse effects of an underlying problem. It affects more women than men between 50 to 60 years. The exact cause is unknown. However, it can be triggered by the following factors:
Read on to learn more about symptoms, diagnoses, and treatment options available at our office.