Specialized Services

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P R S T U V W Y All Services

The UCSF Voice and Swallowing Center team includes laryngologists, speech language pathologists, vocal trainers and researchers who are committed to providing excellence in clinical care and advancing the understanding of voice and swallowing through research, education and service.

We specialize in the diagnosis and management of patients with voice, airway, speech and swallowing problems. This includes difficulties with:

Voice:

• Daily voice demands
• Vocal fold nodules or polyps
• Recurrent laryngitis
• Vocal fold paresis or paralysis
• Age-related voice changes
• Scarred vocal folds
• Laryngeal cancer

Breathing:

• Laryngeal scarring
• Tracheal narrowing

Neurological voice, speech and swallowing disorders:

• Spasmodic dysphonia
• Parkinson's disease
• Tics
• Tremors
• ALS/PLS/progressive bulbar palsy
• Pseudobulbar palsies

Specialized Services

We have particular expertise in managing all types of swallowing disorders, as well as patients with vocal difficulties including professional singers and semi-professional voice users—from amateur choristers to nationally-known vocalists and lecturers. We believe that all patients complaining of difficulty with their voice, regardless of their level of use, benefit from comprehensive evaluation, and the latest diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Specialized procedures for both therapy and diagnosis can be performed in our office and are useful in helping voice professionals and amateurs maintain the quality of their voices.

Services include:

• Laryngeal Videostroboscopy
• Flexible fiberscopic laryngoscopy
• Rigid fiberscopic laryngoscopy
• Laryngeal Electromyography (EMG)
• Acoustic and aerodynamic analysis of voice
• Videofluoroscopy
• Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation swallowing (FEES)
• EMG biofeedback and muscle retraining
• Swallowing rehabilitation
• Nutritional assessment and counseling
• Modified barium swallowing evaluation
• Botulinum toxin injections
• Surgical microlaryngoscopy (fine surgical interventions)
• Professional voice training
• Long-term support

Research and Development

Research, both clinical and basic science, is an essential part of our centers activities. Many of our experts are actively involved in ongoing research, with the aim of improving patient outcomes and care. You may be asked to allow some of your testing results to be used in our research studies. Participation is entirely voluntary, and you will be asked for specific consent and provided with information to make an informed decision to participate. You also may be approached at various times about participating in a research project by filling out additional questionnaires, completing additional testing or having your existing test results entered into a research database.

If you do not wish to participate, you are free to decline and your care will not be compromised in any way.

Preparing For Your First Visit

To facilitate communication between you and your medical care providers, please fill out the forms included in the new patient packet prior to your arrival. You will be evaluated by many care providers, so please allow for your visit to last between two and three hours.

Please bring:

• A letter outlining your medical history and reason for the referral
• Previous medical records, especially those for your current diagnosis and condition
• Previous radiological reports and films from previous studies, pathology, laboratory, operative reports, photographs or video of previous laryngeal or swallowing studies, and the most recent summary dictation from your referring doctor

Your Appointment

If you are unsure that your information has been forwarded to us, please bring your most recent radiographic, voice or swallowing studies with you to the office, together with your completed paper work and insurance information.

During your initial appointment, several clinicians will evaluate you. A nurse will seat you in the examination room and take an initial medical history, then a resident or fellow (doctor-in-training) will ask you question about your medical history and initiate the physical exam. One or several of our clinical specialists, such as a speech language pathologist, vocal trainer or laryngologist, will then perform specialized tests and explain your options for treatment and follow-up.

Financial Issues

If you do not have insurance authorization for your appointment or chose to pay for the visit yourself, our staff will collect the appropriate fees from you at the time of your visit.

For More Information

The UCSF Voice and Swallowing Center is located at: