About Your Voice
Our team of specialists and staff believe that informed patients are better equipped to make decisions regarding their health and well being. For your personal use, we have created an extensive patient library covering an array of educational topics. Browse through these diagnoses and treatments to learn more about topics of interest to you. Or, for a more comprehensive search of our entire Web site, enter your term(s) in the search bar provided.
Mass ENT's handouts and Patient information
General Handouts
- Countdown to Surgery
- Minor Procedure Consent
- Office Endoscopy Consent
- Pre Surgical Bleed
- Steroid Consent
- TMJ Info
EAR
- Chronic Otitis and Cholesteatoma
- Intratympanic Steroid Injections
- Mastoidectomy consent form
- Mastoidectomy Info sheet
- Stapedectomy info Sheet
- Tubes consent form
- Tubes Info Sheet
- Tubes Postop
- Tympanoplasty consent form
- Tympanoplasty Info Sheet
Head and Neck
- FNA consent
- Head and Neck surgery consent
- Parotidectomy Consent
- Parotidectomy info sheet
- SMG consent form
- SMG Info sheet
- Thyroidectomy Info sheet
- Thyroidectomy surgery consent
Nose
- CRNF consent form
- Epistaxis info sheet
- FESS consent form
- FESS Septo consent form
- Nasal Surgery Postop Instructions
- Rhinoplasty consent form
- Rhinoplasty info sheet
- Septoplasty consent form
- Septoplasty info sheet
- Sinus w_w_o septo info sheet
Pediatric
- Adenoidectomy consent form
- Adenoidectomy info sheet
- Adenoidectomy Postop
- T and A info sheet
- T and A consent form
- Tonsillectomy consent form
- Tonsillectomy info sheet
- Tonsillectomy Postop
Throat
- Endoscopic Surg of Upper Consent
- Larynx Scope consent form
- Larynx Scope info sheet
- LPR GERD Info
- UPPP Consent
- UPPP Info
- Upper Airway Endoscopy Consent
- Upper Airway Endoscopy Info
As always, you can contact our office to answer any questions or concerns.
What Is Voice?
"Voice" is the sound made by vibration of the vocal cords caused by air passing out through the larynx bringing the cords closer together. Your voice is an extremely valuable resource and is the most commonly used form of communication. Our voice is invaluable for both our social interaction as well as for most people's occupation. Proper care and use of your voice improves the likelihood of having a healthy voice for your entire lifetime.
How Do I Know If I Have A Voice Problem?
Voice problems occur with a change in the voice, often described as hoarseness, roughness, or a raspy quality. People with voice problems often complain about or notice changes in pitch, loss of voice, loss of endurance, and sometimes a sharp or dull pain associated with voice use. Other voice problems may accompany a change in singing ability that is most notable in the upper singing range. A more serious problem is indicated by spitting up blood or when blood is present in the mucus. These require prompt attention by an otolaryngologist.
What Is The Most Common Cause Of A Change In Your Voice?
Voice changes sometimes follow an upper respiratory infection lasting up to two weeks. Typically the upper respiratory infection or cold causes swelling of the vocal cords and changes their vibration resulting in an abnormal voice. Reduced voice use (voice rest) typically improves the voice after an upper respiratory infection, cold, or bronchitis. If voice does not return to its normal characteristics and capabilities within two to four weeks after a cold, a medical evaluation by an ear, nose, and throat specialist is recommended. A throat examination after a change in the voice lasting longer than one month is especially important for smokers. (Note: A change in voice is one of the first and most important symptoms of throat cancer. Early detection significantly increases the effectiveness of treatment.)
Six Tips To Identify Voice Problems
Ask yourself the following questions to determine if you have an unhealthy voice:
- Has your voice become hoarse or raspy?
- Does your throat often feel raw, achy, or strained?
- Does talking require more effort?
- Do you find yourself repeatedly clearing your throat?
- Do people regularly ask you if you have a cold when in fact you do not?
- Have you lost your ability to hit some high notes when singing?
A wide range of problems can lead to changes in your voice. Seek out a physician's care when voice problems persist.
Hoarseness or roughness in your voice is often caused by a medical problem. Contact an otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon if you have any sustained changes to your voice.