We know that your time is valuable and many have been struggling with voice issues for some time prior to seeing us. We therefore make a concerted effort to get as much of the evaluation done as quickly as possible so that treatment may proceed quickly. We know that medical costs can be high and do our best to avoid ordering tests that are not needed and are unlikely to help with the diagnosis and treatment.
An initial voice visit starts by making an appointment and we well request any previous medical exams, tests, or surgery that are related to your upcoming visit. It can be quite helpful for you to help facilitate the process of gathering records by either sending them yourself or giving us the names of physicians to contact to gather this information.
Upon your arrival to the office you will usually start by seeing Jennifer, our speech pathologist. She will take an initial history of your concerns and review previous records. She will then typically perform a laryngeal videostroboscopy. This is a machine that is used to clearly visualize the vocal cords. The scope is placed in the nose or in the mouth or many times – both. This technologically advanced equipment allows the vocal cords to be magnified and also allows visualization in “slow motion.” This allows much more detailed evaluation of the larynx and aids greatly with diagnosis. If your voice concern has only been going on for a very short time or seems to be self limited we will sometimes skip this part of the exam as there are costs associated with this test.
After recording your laryngeal exam, the physician will see you to perform a head and neck exam, review your medical history and view the laryngeal exam with you in the video monitor. A working diagnosis is then discussed with you and treatment options and possible further evaluation options are then discussed. Treatment voice voice/laryngeal issues can vary greatly ranging from speech therapy, to medications, to lifestyle changes, to various procedures or surgical treatment.
This initial evaluation is thorough and we make as much progress as possible during this visit. Plan on spending a minimum of an hour in the office. By performing a speech pathology evaluation, a stroboscopy, and a physician visit all at the same appointment, we are able to avoid returning for a separate visit for each of these evaluations. This saves on time, decreases copays and moves the process along.
If a procedure or surgery is recommended for your voice issue, this would then be scheduled at a future date. This allows us to appropriately plan for this surgery/procedure and also allow us to get approval from your insurance provider.