Case 34 (2006) 44 yo

She had no prior surgeries, but had difficulty on the job because of her voice. She had tried hormones and speech therapy.

These recordings are set to a fairly low resolution for the internet but do demonstrate the general sound and function of the vocal cords before and after this case of laryngeal reduction surgery. Much more detail is actually visible in the office. The videos when shown are oriented with the front down and the left vocal fold is on the right of the video. Orientation is discussed here. Please note: These examples of possible results should not be construed to represent what will be acheived in any other patient. Thus there are several examples of patients on the site

There are many components to a voice exam. I have selected ones here that I feel change the most with this type of surgery.

 

Pre Surgery

3 weeks

6 months

 

Reading passage

Pitch is described relative to C4 or middle C on the piano.

    

Pitch: about B2 - low in male range

(typical male speaking range about B2 - E3)

Pitch: about G3# (about 10 semitones higher than pre-op) soft quality

(normal female speaking range about E3 - A3)

Pitch: about

(normal female speaking range about E3 - A3)

 

Lowest pitch

    

Pitch: about F2 (normal male low range varies C1 - C3)

Pitch: about G3 (normal female low range varies between B2 - F3) this is a glide from high to lowest pitch.

Pitch: about

  

Highest pitch

    

Pitch: about C5

Pitch: about F4# with some air leak suggesting some stiffness still present.

Pitch: about

  

Vegetative sounds

coughing & throat clearing

    

 

some change

 

  

Yell

loud phonation

    

 

definite change

 

  

Laryngoscopy

Views

        
 
 
 
  

Stroboscopy

saying the sound /i/

        
Views during phonation.
 
 
  
The surgeon’s comments:

Her surgery was complicated by a post-operative infection that required a drain so the three week pitch is quite impressive to me given the initial swelling present.

 
The patient’s comments: