What is a Laryngologist?
Fellowship-trained Laryngologist, Reena Gupta, MD
A laryngologist is a physician and surgeon that is specifically trained to care for the voice and larynx (voice box). While ENTs are technically trained to care for basic throat issues, Laryngologists complete extra training to more accurately assess, diagnose, and treat the voice.
It can be confusing, especially when ENTs throw around the term “voice doctor” to say they can care for the voice..
For vocal athletes, seeing an ENT instead of a laryngologist can mean the difference between saving, or losing, a career.
Vocal athletes must have a laryngologist on their team.
WHAT IS A LARYNGOLOGIST?
A laryngologist is a medical physician and surgeon. To be a Laryngologist, you must:
Complete Medical School
Complete 5 years of residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (Ear, Nose and Throat)
Complete 1 year of additional year of training in Laryngology, or care of the larynx. This is called a fellowship.
During fellowship training, the physician is trained in the interpretation of videostroboscopy for diagnosis and treatment. Surgical training is also focused on advanced voice and throat procedures. Fellowships are awarded to select Ear, Nose and Throat candidates through a competitive application process and are offered at only a few locations around the country.
How do I know if I am seeing a laryngologist?
Many ENTs try to care for voice users by calling themselves “voice doctors.” These ENTs are doing the vocal athlete a huge disservice, often skipping vital parts of the vocal history, exam, and therefore misdiagnosing. ENTs miss subtle issues that can permanently damage the voice. These scenarios often end in a prescription for reflux medication and a follow up 3 months later without improvement.
If you are unsure, download our checklist here and find out if your doctor is providing the best in vocal care.
Center for Vocal Health believes all vocal athletes deserve to be seen by a Laryngologist. We would be happy to help you make an appointment for in-person, off-site, or telehealth care with our Laryngologist. Please fill out the form below and a member of our team will be in touch soon.
Interested in working with the best professionals in LA for voice care and rehabilitation?
Meet Dr. Gupta, the top voice doctor in LA, and Tressa Cox, the leading voice therapist specializing in voice rehabilitation.
Learn more about their expertise and services at the Center for Vocal Health.