Our throat provides an incredible amount of functionality within our bodies – not only do we talk or using our vocal cords, but the throat is the central passageway for getting food and liquid into our stomachs. It also plays a major role in our ability to breathe easily. When throat conditions interfere with the throat’s normal ability to function, it can be inconvenient and, in some cases, dangerous. At Accelerate ENT, we are trained to diagnose and treat a wide range of speech and swallowing conditions, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to us so we can help you improve the health of your throat.

Swallowing Problems

Dysphasia is the medical term for “trouble swallowing” and is sometimes temporary, while in other cases, the inability to swallow can be caused by a more serious condition. Swallowing disorders often come with a very noticeable set of symptoms that can greatly interfere with one’s ability to eat or drink normally. Some signs of dysphagia might include:

Feeling like something is lodged in the throat
Weight loss due to difficulty with eating
Coughing or choking easily while eating or drinking
Drooling
Voice changes
Discomfort in the chest or throat

In order to evaluate a swallowing problem and determine the cause, our physicians will examine your throat, neck, and nose using a variety of techniques. Patients find that a variety of treatments are available to treat their dysphagia depending on the underlying cause. Many can resume normal swallowing function using medication, while others may opt for diet and lifestyle changes.

Chronic Laryngitis

You may have heard of Laryngitis as it is a common condition. Laryngitis occurs when your larynx and vocal cords become inflamed or swollen. Many things can cause laryngitis like:

Overusing your voice
Long-term tobacco smoking
Acid reflux
Viral infections, such as the cold or flu viruses

Your risk of chronic laryngitis increases if you have pneumonia or allergies. Treatment usually involves hydration, plenty of rest and in some cases, medication therapy. If you have a very serious case, you may be recommended for surgery.

Chronic laryngitis can develop over long periods of time and last for weeks or months but if you have symptoms that last longer than 14 days that may be a sign of a more serious medical condition. You should call Accelerate ENT if you have laryngitis symptoms for longer than 14 days.

Vocal Cord Paralysis

Vocal cord paralysis is a condition that paralyzes the muscles that controls the vocal cords. Paralysis can be cause by:

Tumors
Nerve damage
Injuries

Some symptoms of vocal cord paralysis include difficulty breathing or changes to your voice. If only one vocal cord is paralyzed, the voice is usually hoarse. But if both vocal cords are paralyzed, the voice is reduced in strength but otherwise sounds normal.

The space between the paralyzed cords is very small and the airway is inadequate, which can cause additional problems when someone who attempts something like moderate exercise. Overexertion can cause difficulty in breathing and a harsh, high-pitched sound (stridor) with each breath.

Recurrent Respiratory Papilloma

Recurrent respiratory papilloma also known as laryngeal papillomatosis or glottal papillomatosis, is a rare disease in which benign tumors (papilloma) grow in the air passages leading from the nose and mouth into the lungs.

RRP is caused by two types of human papilloma virus (HPV): HPV 6 and HPV 11.

Symptoms of Recurrent Respiratory Papilloma are:

Hoarseness (most common)
Tumors (which can eventually block the airway)
Difficulty breathing when sleeping
Chronic coughing
Difficulty swallowing

Recurrent respiratory papilloma is diagnosed through a series of tests. The two main tests are indirect and direct laryngoscopy. An indirect laryngoscopy entails an ENT doctor to insert an endoscope into a patient’s nose or mouth and then view the larynx on a monitor. A direct laryngoscopy is more involved and requires the use of general anesthesia so the doctor can view the vocal cords and other parts of the larynx with high magnification.

There is currently no cure for RRP. The primary method for removing tumors from the larynx or airway is through laser surgery. Please contact Accelerate ENT to learn more about this condition and treatments.

Benign Vocal Cord Lesions

Benign vocal cord lesions, also known as vocal fold lesions, noncancerous growths that include nodules, polyps, and cysts. All can cause hoarseness and can result from repetitive overuse or misuse of the voice.

There is a difference between vocal cord nodules and polyps. Each can be caused by different forms of trauma, but it’s not exactly the kind of trauma you’d expect. Types of trauma includes singing (particularly in professional singers), cheerleading, screaming and excessive talking (such as that by a teacher or salesperson). Other causes include smoking, alcohol use, sinusitis, allergies, and rarely, hypothyroidism.

If you are experiencing a hoarse voice, pain or other symptoms for more than 2 to 3 weeks, you should visit an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor). The otolaryngologist can evaluate the vocal cords with a special scope, often using a strobe light to see the vibration of the vocal cords and make a diagnosis. Depending on what the otolaryngologist finds, additional testing and treatment will be determined based on this initial examination.

Correct diagnosis of vocal cord lesions is very important; treatments can vary can from conservative behavioral, medical, and dietary treatments to more invasive treatments like surgery.