Any number of things can cause your voice to change. Most causes will resolve on their own with simple at-home remedies but some are a sign of something more severe.

Vocal abuse, which occurs when you use your voice too much or incorrectly, can cause soft swollen spots to form on the vocal cords. Slowly these spots can develop into hard growths called nodules. If left untreated, the nodules will continue to grow larger and stiffen. Polyps are created in the same way, except instead of creating hard growths they are blister-like and can grow faster and larger.

These growths can cause hoarseness and a lump-in-the-throat sensation. In order to diagnose a growth on the vocal cord your doctor will review your medical history and complete a full physical exam, including a voice evaluation. An endoscope may be used to get a closer look at the vocal cords. This procedure involves inserting a thin lighted instrument down your nose or throat.

Treatment for these growths depends on their size and age. Large or old growths may be removed surgically. Behavioral intervention, specifically learning good vocal hygiene in order to prevent additional vocal abuse, is usually recommended for newer and smaller growths.

Paradoxical vocal fold movement (PVFM) is a voice disorder that is commonly misdiagnosed as asthma. Those with this condition will have working vocal cords most of the time. During an episode their vocal cords will close when they should be open; this causes wheezing and difficulty breathing.

In order to diagnose this condition your doctor will review your medical history, perform a physical exam and use an endoscope to get a closer look at your vocal cords. A voice evaluation may also be performed.

The treatment for PVFM is based on determining your triggers. These can include shouting, cold air or irritants. Knowing your triggers can help prevent future episode.

If you notice a change in your voice contact our office at 337-266-9820 to schedule an exam.

Hoarseness

Hoarseness is an abnormal change in your voice. This change can be in the volume or pitch and may cause the voice to sound breathy, raspy or strained. Typically, hoarseness is caused by a vocal cord disorder, such as acute laryngitis or vocal abuse. In most situations the hoarseness will resolve on its own with simple home remedies such as drinking plenty of fluids and resting your voice. If it does not resolve you should seek medical attention. Your doctor will review your medical history, complete a physical exam and inspect your vocal cords with the use of an endoscope.

Vocal Cords

Vocal cords, also known as vocal folds, are part of our sound creating process. The vocal cords sit on top of the windpipe. When air is pushed through the lungs it passes between the open vocal cards, causing them to vibrate. This creates a buzzing sound. The buzzing is then passed through the throat, nose and mouth where it is changed into speech. If something happens to the vocal cords, such as paralysis or a growth, your voice will change. This often results in hoarseness or an inability to speak loudly.

Head and neck masses can develop for a number of reasons, ranging from a simple cyst to cancer.

The most common neck mass is caused by enlarged lymph nodes. Lymph nodes can become enlarged because of a viral infection, bacterial infection or an infection located somewhere else in the body. A viral infection, such as that of the common cold, will cause soft non-tender masses to form. The lymph nodes will return to normal once the infection has run its course. A bacterial infection will lead to tender masses. An infection of the body, such as mononucleosis, human immunodeficiency virus or tuberculosis will cause multiple lymph nodes to become enlarged throughout the body.

Hard, non-painful masses are usually associated with cancer. While anyone can develop cancerous growths, they are more common in the older population. Typically, this type of cancer spreads to the head and neck from the mouth or throat.

Contrary to cancers, which are more common in older people, cysts are common in the younger population. These painless masses are hollow and full of fluid.

In order to determine the cause of your head or neck mass, your doctor will need to review your medical history and complete a physical exam. They will examine the mass itself, looking to see if it is hard or soft. They will also check to see if there are sores or growths in your mouth and if you are experiencing any trouble swallowing or hoarseness.

Many of these lumps will go away on their own. If they don’t, a blood test, chest X-ray and a biopsy of the mass may be required.

Since head and neck masses can range from simple cysts to cancerous growths it is important to have them examined as soon as possible. Contact our office at 337-266-9820 to schedule an appointment.

Throat cancer is a broad term used to describe cancerous tumors in the throat, voice box or tonsils. While cancer can be found anywhere, throat cancers often begin in the flat cells that line the throat.

The first signs of throat cancer are: cough, changes in voice, difficulty swallowing, ear pain, a sore throat and weight loss. Since these symptoms can be associated with many conditions it is important to seek medical attention if they do not resolve in a timely manner.

Throat cancer occurs when a genetic mutation causes the cells to grow uncontrollably. These cells continue to live long after healthy cells would normally die; together these cells form a tumor. While the exact cause of the mutation is unknown, tobacco use, excessive alcohol use, human papillomavirus, gastroesophageal reflux disease and a diet lacking fruits and vegetables have all been shown to increase your rick.

A few tests are needed in order to determine a diagnosis. A lighted scope, called an endoscope, is used in an endoscopy. A small camera is inserted down your throat in order to get a better look. If any abnormalities are found during this procedure surgical instruments are passed through the endoscope to collect a sample; this is called a biopsy. This sample is sent to the laboratory for testing. Imaging tests, such as an X-ray, computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or positron emission tomography (PET) may be ordered to determine if the cancer has spread.

Many factors, such as the severity and location of the cancer, are taken into consideration when creating a treatment plan. Radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy and targeted drug therapy are the most common treatments.

Radiation therapy uses high-level energy beams to deliver radiation to the cancer cells, causing them to die. This may be used by itself, more common with early-stage cancers, or in combination with other treatments.

Surgery may be used to remove just the cancerous cells or the cells and a piece of your throat. There are a number of different types of operations, depending on the location of the cancer cells. Some may also need their lymph nodes removed if the cancer spread that far.

Chemotherapy is a concentration of drugs used to kill the cancer cells. Often, chemotherapy is used to make the cancer cells more sensitive to the radiation therapy.

Targeted drug therapy is still in the clinical testing phase. Some have been approved but they can only treat certain cancers in certain locations.

If you would like additional information about what can be done to lower your risk for throat cancer or would like to schedule an appointment, contact our office at 337-266-9820.

Tonsils are oval-shaped pink masses that sit on each side of the back of your throat. Adenoids are slightly smaller masses that sit in the back of your throat, behind your nose; they cannot be seen without a special instrument. They both play an important role in your body’s defense system.

The tonsils and adenoids work to trap germs that enter the body through the nose and mouth. Since they both come into direct contact with bacteria and viruses they can easily become infected. This causes the masses to become inflamed. An infection within the tonsils and adenoids is called tonsillitis and adenoiditis, respectively. It is important to note that adenoiditis very rarely occurs in adults. Adenoids begin to shrink after the age of seven and become increasingly smaller in adulthood.

Signs of tonsillitis are red and swollen tonsils, white or yellow coating over the tonsils, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes in the neck and a fever. Signs of adenoiditis are mouth breathing, snoring at night and noisy breathing during the day.

If symptoms persist for longer than a week you should seek medical attention. Your doctor will review your medical history and perform a physical exam, looking in your throat, ears and nose. A throat swab will be run over the back of your throat to check for streptococcal bacteria. If the test comes back positive, you have a bacterial infection; if the test comes back negative the presumption is you are suffering from a viral infection.

Bacterial infections can be treated with a 10-day course of antibiotics. A viral infection is treated with rest, fluids and over-the-counter pain medications to manage the fever.

If the symptoms do not subside after treatment, or if you or your child experiences frequent infection, surgery may be needed. Often times, a tonsillectomy, the removal of the tonsils, and an adenoidectomy, the removal of the adenoids, are performed at the same time. This is an outpatient procedure and most can return home that same day.

If you would like additional information on how to treat these conditions or would like to know if surgery is the answer, contact our office at 337-266-9820.

The nose contains three pairs of turbinates (inferior, middle and superior), elongated structures that are responsible for humidifying the air that moves through your nose, while filtering dust and dirt. The lowest pair, the inferior turbinate, can cause obstruction of the airways when swollen, leading to breathing difficulties. Some patients benefit from a surgical procedure to reduce the size of the inferior turbinate.

The inferior turbinate frequently changes size, growing larger when a cold or virus causes congestion, and shrinking when treated with decongestants. It causes an airway obstruction when enlarged, leading to congestion and breathing difficulties.

An inferior turbinate reduction is a surgical procedure designed to reduce the size of the inferior turbinate, clearing up the airway to eliminate any associated breathing or sinus problems. There are several different procedures that can be performed.

A submucous resection involves removing a thin section of bone causing the lining of the turbinate to shrink and the nasal passage to grow larger. This is usually performed in an operating room under general anesthesia.

Radiofrequency inferior turbinate reduction utilizes a probe that delivers radiofrequency energy to heat the tissues beneath the surface of the inferior turbinates decreasing their size. This procedure is quick and painless, and is typically performed on an outpatient basis even in the office without anesthesia or sedation.

To determine if you are a candidate for turbinate reduction, your otolaryngologist will need to evaluate and diagnose your symptoms. Contact our office at 337-266-9820 to schedule an appointment.