Throat & Voice Disorders

Conditions

We treat the following conditions:

Services

Our services include the following:

Singing Voice Services

If you are a singer or if your singing voice is of concern to you, our Singing Voice Specialist (SVS), Faye Muntz, MM, will see you during the initial evaluation with the voice team. An SVS provides a separate focus from a singing coach or teacher. She has expertise in the rehabilitation of singing voices, which is usually outside the scope of regular voice lessons. Faye has extensive experience and expertise in rehabilitating singers who have suffered laryngeal injury or muscular imbalances. Frequently the voice teachers in the community refer their students to be seen by Faye when they have concerns. Faye’s evaluation and recommendations are necessary in order for us to provide an accurate treatment plan for you.

Singing voice services are not covered by insurance and fees are due at the time of your appointment. Most of the patients who are singers require sessions with our singing voice specialist, and we find that it is actually less expensive and time-consuming for the singer if the singing voice specialist is present at the initial evaluation.

Faye Muntz received a BA degree from the University of Cincinnati as a voice major at the College-Conservatory of Music and her master’s degree in vocal performance with a pedagogy emphasis from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Before moving to Salt Lake City, she was a featured soloist and professional member of the Bach Society of St. Louis and has produced and directed several musical productions there. She has served as a clinician and lecturer for the Salt Lake Jazz Festival, given lectures on vocal hygiene at the University of Utah School of Music as well as at Utah State University, performed in the Temple Square Artist Series concerts, and judged local, regional, and national vocal competitions for numerous organizations, including the Utah Symphony-Utah Opera Salute to Youth competition.

She has been the singing voice specialist for University of Utah Health Voice Disorders Center, a vocal teacher, and has continued her education through clinical observation, seminars, coursework, and workshops throughout the country since 2000.

What are some examples of voice, airway, and swallowing disorders?

Examples of voice disorders include recurrent laryngitis, vocal fold paralysis, presbylaryngis (aging voice), papilloma, cancer of the vocal folds, benign essential tremor, vocal fold web, muscle tension dysphonia, spasmodic dysphonia, and benign vocal fold growths, such as polyps, nodules, cysts, and granulomas.

There are also breathing disorders that are related to the larynx (voice box), such as paradoxical vocal fold motion (also known as vocal cord dysfunction, laryngospasm), or disorders of the trachea (wind pipe), such as subglottic or tracheal stenosis. These disorders may or may not affect the voice, but are also treated at our center.

Swallowing disorders, also called dysphagia (dis-FAY-juh), can occur at different stages in the swallowing process: oral phase (mouth), pharyngeal (throat) phase, or esophageal (swallowing tube from throat to the stomach) phase and are evaluated and treated in our center. Individuals with chronic cough are also often seen in and treated in our clinic.

What are the symptoms of most voice, breathing, or swallowing problems?

Hoarseness is one of the most common symptoms of voice problems. Other common symptoms of voice disorders include effortful talking, persistent pain or sore throat with voice use, shortness of breath while speaking, reduced volume, reduced vocal endurance, chronic throat clearing, and chronic cough with or without coughing attacks.

Dyspnea (shortness of breath or difficulty breathing) with inhalation, inhalation and exhalation, and/or without exertion but with symptoms of noisy breathing (wheezing/stridor), and throat tightness are symptoms of individuals with breathing difficulties. These are airway disorders, which we also treat.

Coughing during or right after eating or drinking, a wet or gurgly sounding voice during or after eating or drinking, extra effort or time needed to chew or swallow, food or liquid leaking from the mouth or getting stuck in the mouth, throat or chest, recurring pneumonia or chest congestion after eating, and weight loss or dehydration from not being able to eat enough are symptoms of swallowing disorders.

How are voice, airway, and swallowing disorders treated?

The Voice Disorders Center provides a number of different behavioral, pharmaceutical, surgical, and medical management options. A thorough evaluation and proper diagnosis are necessary prior to treatment planning.

For Professional Voice Users

People who use their voice for a living are more at risk for developing voice problems. Occupations that require significant voice use include the following:

Avocational Voice Use

Recreational activities can also be vocally demanding:

Cause for Concern?

Any sudden or severe voice changes should be evaluated immediately. Gradual onset of hoarseness, vocal fatigue, or other symptoms of laryngitis that persist for longer than three weeks should be evaluated as well.

Increased Vocal Demands

• Any profession that requires three or more hours of speaking or singing per day is considered to be vocally demanding.
• Greater stress on the voice occurs when working in noisy environments such as construction sites, factories, or classrooms.
• Speaking or singing for greater than one hour at a time is also considered to be extended voice use.
• Even highly trained voice users (professional singers, actors) can develop voice problems, despite good vocal technique.