VOICE CONSULTATION AND EXAMINATION
What is a voice consultation?
We understand that your voice connects you to who you are. It is a vital part of what you do and when it doesn’t work properly, you may be afraid.
We make it as easy as possible to get in, get seen by our expert laryngologist, Dr. Reena Gupta, and receive a treatment plan geared towards your successful recovery.
A full voice consultation means careful listening, clear communication, empathy, and customized care.
What is the difference at the Center for Vocal Health?
These days, it is not as hard as it used to be to get a picture of your vocal cords.
Though the vocal cords are hidden inside the throat, cameras and endoscopes have evolved to permit most doctors to examine the vocal cords.
Below are some of the key features that make the Center for Vocal Health the only option for vocal athletes.
Flexible laryngoscopy view
THE NEEDS OF A VOCAL ATHLETE
TRAINING
Our doctor is a fellowship-trained laryngologist. Not an ENT. Not an otolaryngologist.
Dr. Reena Gupta trained in ENT did an extra year of training in Laryngology and Care of the Professional Voice. She has the highest level of training available in voice medicine and surgery.
Laryngology fellowship means committing your time, brain, heart, and career to the exclusive practice of voice medicine.
STROBOSCOPY
Stroboscopy or straight light? Both types of light let you see the vocal cords but only stroboscopy works to ensure vocal fold vibration is seen. Stroboscopy tests the function of the vocal cords, not just what they look like. A straight light (used by ENTs) cannot detect vocal fold vibration and so it cannot determines the cause of voice issues.
EXAM TYPE
A scope in the nose or scope in the mouth? Believe it or not, it matters. A nasal scope is often used by general ENTs. This scope has lower resolution and illumination and is rarely coupled with stroboscopy Transoral (through the mouth) stroboscopy is the standard of care and is done on every patient seen at CVH .
EXPERT INTERPRETATION
Data are only valuable if accurately interpreted. Dr. Gupta has been treating voice disorders for over a decade, connecting the patient’s story to their sound to the stroboscopy . It is her passion and her focus. When seeing second opinions, Dr. Gupta has found numerous errors from misinterpretation of exams, even when stroboscopy is performed. This can result in unnecessary surgery or missed diagnoses.
RECORDING
When we examine you, we take a high-definition video of your entire exam. This allows you to view your vocal cords and understand your condition better. It also helps to compare your videos during follow ups, to ensure the treatments are working.
WHAT IS A PROPER VOICE EXAM?
Vocal cord exam with scope in the nose.
Rigid stroboscopy.
OLDER TECHNOLOGY
It is not acceptable to have an ENT pass a scope through your nose, view it with their eye only, commit it to memory, and describe what they saw to you.
These types of vague, inadequate exams result in patient disempowerment and poor outcomes.
CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY
Fiberoptic, standard definition or high-definition? All three technologies exist in the ENT space.
We use high-definition, rigid, stroboscopic cameras, the most current in digital imaging to view your vocal cords, ensuring no detail is missed.