Laryngology and Swallowing

2024/06/21

The Laryngology & Swallowing subspecialty specialises in the evaluation and management of throat, voice and swallowing disorders. These include services for patients with voice misuse and abuse, vocal cord paralysis, cancer of the larynx and swallowing difficulties related to conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. Patients with such disorders are evaluated by our laryngologist and a team of dedicated Speech Therapists who specialise in speech and swallowing rehabilitation.

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Laryngeal conditions

The voice and swallowingclinic provides diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for conditions relating to the throat, voice, and swallowing.

Laryngitis (acute and chronic)
Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Chronic cough
Hoarseness
Sore throat
Occupational and professional voice problem
Benign vocal cord lesions (vocal cord nodules, polyps, cysts)
Vocal cord tumours
Laryngeal cancer
Early throat and vocal cord cancers
Dysphagia (swallowing difficulty)
Poor vocal projection/soft voice
Vocal fatigue
Pain on speaking and swallowing
Reduced/limited pitch range

Office-based Investigations

Voice assessment
Videostroboscopy
Transnasal esophagoscopy
Fiberoptic endoscopic examination of swallowing (FEES)
Videofluoroscopy

Speech Therapies

Voice and speech therapy and rehabilitation
Psychological therapy in specific voice or swallowing-related disorders
Swallowing therapy & rehabilitation
Preventative swallowing program for patients undergoing radiotherapy
Interdisciplinary assessment with our trained speech therapists

Treatment Options

Diagnostic procedures and treatments that can be performed in the clinic:

Nasoendoscopy of the larynx
Stroboscopy to visualise the vocal cords
Trans-Nasal Esophagoscopy (TNE)
Swallowing assessment ie: Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES)
Injection medialisation thyroplasty
Botulium injection to the laryngeal muscles

Common Surgical Procedures

Clinic-based laryngeal injections including vocal fold augmentation and botulinum toxin (botox)
Microlaryngeal surgery (microscopic surgery to the larynx)
Surgery for unilateral and bilateral vocal paralysis
Laser surgery including early laryngeal cancer and laryngeal papilloma
Secondary tracheoesophageal puncture for speech post-laryngectomy
Endoscopic laser treatment and dilatation of laryngeal stenosis
Surgical treatment of dysphagia including cricopharyngeal dilatation and endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomy
Surgery for muscle-related voice disorders e.g. spasmodic dysphonia
Endolaryngeal microsurgery (ELMS)
Biopsy/excision of laryngeal tumours
Injection of Botulium to the laryngeal muscles or cricopharyngeus
Injection medialisation thyroplasty
Thyroplasty procedures including:
- Open medialisation thyroplasty
- Feminisation glottoplasty and shaving of the thyroid cartilage

Doctors

Dr Ker Liang

Visiting Consultant