Voice and throat
Voice and throat
Voice and throat consultations are for hoarseness, a voice that tires, pain on speaking or swallowing, and a change that has not settled. The aim is to see the vocal folds and explain the finding. It is not a verdict reached from a description alone.
Who this visit is for
Come if the voice has been hoarse for more than a few weeks, if you sing or speak for work and the voice no longer lasts the day, or if swallowing has changed. A hoarse voice with difficulty breathing, or a voice that vanishes with noisy breathing, should be assessed urgently by phone or in emergency care.
What assessment involves
The history covers how you use your voice, smoking, reflux symptoms, and whether the change followed a cold. Seeing the larynx is the usual next step. That is done with a fine camera through the nose or mouth. It is uncomfortable for a moment. It is explained first, and it is how a guess becomes a finding.
Public profiles describe voice training undertaken by Dr Shetty. The person who performs the examination at your visit, and whether a speech therapist is part of the same day, depends on the location. Ask when you book if you want therapy discussed at the first appointment.
Paths that may follow
- Voice rest and a clear plan for how you use the voice.
- Treatment of a cause such as inflammation, when that is what is seen.
- Speech therapy, arranged rather than assumed.
- A procedure, only if a lesion or another finding makes that the right discussion.
Most hoarse voices are not cancer. A consultation still has to look, because the serious causes and the ordinary ones can sound the same at the start.
Practical questions
How long should I wait with a hoarse voice?
A voice that is hoarse for more than three weeks should be examined, sooner if you smoke or if breathing or swallowing is affected. This is a reason to arrange a visit, not a diagnosis.
Will I need an operation on the vocal cords?
Only if a finding that benefits from surgery is actually seen. Many voice problems are managed by changing how the voice is used, or by treating inflammation.
What if this feels urgent?
Difficulty breathing, heavy bleeding, or a throat that is swelling quickly needs emergency care. Do not wait for a reply to the website form. A hearing loss that arrives suddenly should be assessed the same day: call the clinic, or go to an emergency department if the clinic is closed.