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The UCSD Voice Disorders Clinic is a multidisciplinary program dedicated to the care of the voice and the larynx. In addition to evaluating and treating professional vocalists (singers, actors, teachers, public speakers), the clinic caters to patients with disorders of the larynx (voice box) ranging from neurologic conditions such as vocal cord paralysis, tremor, Parkinson’s Disease, and spasmodic dysphonia to inflammatory and cancerous diseases such as benign and malignant tumors. The most common symptoms affecting patients seen in the Voice Disorders Clinic are hoarseness and a change in voice quality, but other symptoms that may warrant a consultation include trouble swallowing and aspiration, a foreign body sensation in the throat, a cough that does not seem to have a pulmonary basis, or alteration of voice performance and endurance.
Patient education is a top priority at the clinic. The environment is one that encourages and optimizes the patient’s understanding of his or her disorder, with the belief that restoration of vocal health is maximized when preventive and protective behavioral measures can be adopted by the patient. When specific treatment is prescribed for a voice disorder it may include speech and voice therapy (vocal exercises and retraining), medications (such as those directed against gastroesophageal reflux, infections, or allergies), or surgery (such as endoscopic laryngeal microsurgery performed through the mouth under general anesthesia, or open laryngeal surgery).
While the types of voice and laryngeal disorders managed are numerous, the common denominator at the UCSD Voice Disorders Clinic is simple: the goal of restoring and optimizing voice and laryngeal function to enhance communication, performance, and quality of life.
The Voice Disorders Clinic is located in the Outpatient Center of UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest.
Schedule An Appointment
To schedule an appointment, call:
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