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#1. What is laryngology, and what is a pediatric otolaryngologist?
So it's a long name, but essentially, it's part of the otolaryngology, head and neck surgery, or ear, nose, and throat specialty, as we're commonly called. Laryngology focuses on the throat part of the ear, nose, and throat, and that's specifically voice, airway, and swallowing problems. And, pediatric otolaryngology is just specializing in kids who have ear, nose, and throat problems.
#2. Why did you choose to specialize in voice and airway care?
So it turns out that being able to talk and communicate with people, being able to breathe, and also being able to eat and swallow, and enjoy eating are really important to most people and their quality of life. So I find it really satisfying to be able to help patients and people optimize their voice, their breathing, and their swallowing.
#3. What do you love most about helping people with vocal disorders?
I think that patients with voice disorders are so appreciative when they can get their voice back and their ability to communicate with their family, friends, and loved ones the way they want to. So they're definitely a very appreciative patient population.
#4. What's one small habit or daily change that can make a big difference for your long-term vocal health?
Definitely staying well hydrated and resting your voice.
#5. What's something people often do when they're hoarse that actually makes things worse?
People will spend a lot of time trying to whisper or clear their throat or maybe cough to clear things, and all of those things actually can be more irritating and more harmful to your voice.
#6. Knowing what you know, you probably cringe a little bit when you hear somebody what?
Definitely when I hear someone constantly clearing their throat. I don't think that people understand that that can be quite harmful to their throat, and that the more you clear your throat, the more it irritates it and the more it makes you want to clear your throat. Then it's kind of a never-ending cycle that can be annoying to you, as well as everyone around you. So I think that's the main thing. When I am at a show or in the grocery store line and I hear someone doing that, I have to resist the urge to tell them to stop.
#7. Is there a patient story that stayed with you, like one of those "this is why I do this" moments?
When patients have lost their voice and feel like they aren't going to get it back, and then, through medicine or therapy or surgery, you're able to get them back to having a functioning voice, that is something that they're eternally grateful for and definitely is why I do it.
I'd say another part of what I do is treat patients with airway problems. Some patients with airway problems cannot breathe on their own. They have to breathe through an artificial tube, a tracheostomy tube, and that can also impact their voice and ability to swallow.
And when you can treat someone and do a surgery that allows them to breathe and then also talk and swallow independently without a tube, and are able to take that artificial tube out, that is definitely one of the most satisfying things that I do in my job as a laryngologist and pediatric otolaryngologist.
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