Foniatr is a doctor engaged in the treatment and diagnosis of the vocal cords

To understand when to contactphoniatrist, it is necessary to clarify the specialization of this doctor. The phoniatrist is a specialist involved in the diagnosis and treatment of the vocal cords. Phoniatrics is a relatively young and rare specialization. Far from every clinic you can find a doctor who will develop or restore voice. Most often, patients are referred for treatment to an ENT specialist, despite the fact that the phoniatrist receives an in-depth, narrow specialization.

The reason for going to the doctor

A phoniatrist is needed in many cases. There are a number of diseases that can deprive a person of voice. Get expert advice is desirable in the following cases:

1. There were voice changes. It seems to others that you have a cold all the time.
2. You have been smoking for many years and began to notice that your voice has become rougher.
3. It is difficult for you to talk, the voice sounds weak and inexpressive.
4. Periodically there is a loss of voice.
5. Changed the sound range of singing.
6. Feeling of tension in the vocal cords.
7. Before you speak, there is a need to cough.

For a long time it was believed that the phoniatrist is a doctorfor professional singers. But in reality there are many pathological conditions leading to loss of voice, and not only singers and artists are subject to problems.

The main diseases that are treated by a phoniatrist

One thing, the suspicion that the person is sick.Another thing - the diagnosis. If a therapist, pediatrician or otolaryngologist identified one of these diagnoses, then you should sign up for a consultation with the phoniatrist:

• laryngitis (both acute and chronic);
• malfunction of the vocal cords ("speech" profession);
• neoplasms in the larynx (benign or malignant);
• paresis or paralysis of the vocal cords;
• laryngeal stenosis (for any disease).

Specify that the "speech" profession, which oftenyou need a phoniatrist, these are actors, singers, teachers, lecturers, guides, announcers, politicians. In addition, it is prompters, sales assistants, emergency line operators and many others.

What can a phoniatrist do?

Profound narrow specialization allows the doctor to choose the most correct treatment regimen. It may be:

• conservative therapy;
• drug treatment;
• operations;
• physiotherapeutic procedures;
• inhalation;
• irrigation;
• phytotherapy and so on.

What diagnostic methods can be usedphoniatry? These are video stroboscopy, palpation of the thyroid gland, X-ray, angiography, laryngoscopy, and glottography. In addition to these methods, ultrasound, MRI, computed tomography and analyzes can be prescribed.

Do phoniatric doctors need children?

Small children often scream, catch cold, get sicklaryngitis and laryngotracheitis. This becomes an occasion to appeal to the pediatrician. Parents simply do not know that an ENT phoniatrist can conduct a more qualified consultation.

Not only smallchildren. Frequent patients of this specialist are adolescents in puberty. Timely counseling is especially important if a teenager is engaged in singing. During the mutational period, the occupation should be controlled by a children's phoniatrist.

Small detail

Для музыкальных школ, хоровых коллективов, Vocal studios cooperation with the phoniatrist can be very useful, but is not mandatory. But if a person decides to seriously take up vocals, then when they enroll in a music school or a higher educational institution, a certificate of the absence of contraindications for high voice loads is required. This certificate gives the doctor-foniatr.

Emergency help with voice loss

The first requirement of the phoniatrist, if the voice is gone -silence. But you can not always be silent. In cases where it is not possible to cancel a speech or report, the phoniatrist provides emergency assistance. This is irrigation of the larynx with one cube of adrenaline. After this procedure, the voice returns, but not for long. It is necessary to execute the planned actions in 1,5-2 hours (repeated injection does not work). After the injection of adrenaline, you can’t sing and talk a lot for two days.

A milder emergency option is taking calcium chloride with milk. This drink helps to quickly cope with the loss of voice.