VOICE
Most people’s careers depend on their voices. This is obvious for singers and those in the theater arts. But it isn’t as intuitive for teachers, attorneys and other professionals. So, although the former group will need medical care for their voices, the latter group comprises a significant number of patients treated in the Ithaca Voice and Swallowing Clinic.
The Itahaca Voice and Swallowing Clinic is a collaboration between Dr. Strominger and May Pitti M.S CCC-SLP assistant professor in the Ithaca College Sir Alexander Ewing Speech and Hearing Clinic. By combining the expertise of the otolaryngologist and the speech pathologist the patient is able to get the most comprehensive evaluation possible. This may include the use of Kay Pentax videostroboscopy. Also, by working together we are able to develop a treatment plan that combines the knowledge and skill of both the physician and therapist. Often speech therapy is needed. And if surgery is necessary, Dr. Strominger is skilled in the most advanced techniques in microlaryngeal phonosurgery. For spasmodic dysphonia he performs EMG guided vocal cord BOTOX injection.
Suffering aspiration pneumonia is the leading cause of death after stroke. It is also one of the most debilitating problems with progressive neurologic disorders such as ALS and Parkinson’s disease. In the past the only way to evaluate a patients swallowing was with an x-ray called a modified barium swallow or video swallow. These are still useful tools, but since the development of Functional Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES), for many patients it has become unnecessary. With FEES the physician and the therapist are able to evaluate a patient’s swallowing function in the outpatient clinic, without exposure to radiation and with a more natural position. During the evaluation we can assess the benefit of various therapeutic swallowing strategies/maneuvers. After swallowing therapy the patient can be reevaluated to see how he/she has progressed.