Sore Throat

Pain or discomfort of the throat, made worse when swallowing, not caused by injury.

Causes

  • Cold: Sore throat is a common symptom for 24 hours, followed by a cough and runny nose.
  • Strep Pharyngitis: Not accompanied by other cold symptoms. Pus is visible on the tonsils at peak age between 5 and 15 years old. Antibiotics often recommended.
  • Mono: Mainly occurs in teens and young adults. Often accompanied by fever and widespread swollen lymph nodes. Similar to strep, pus can also be visible on the tonsils. Must be diagnosed with blood tests.
  • Post-Nasal Drip: Caused by drainage from a sinus infection, oftentimes viral. Clearing of the throat causes irritation.
  • Abscess of Tonsil: A serious bacterial infection of the tonsil can spread to surrounding areas. Symptoms include trouble swallowing, fever and one-sided throat pain.

Hoarseness

Voice is raspy and deeper than usual, often accompanied by a cough.

Causes

  • Laryngitis: Medical term for a hoarse voice caused by an infection or irritation of the larynx (voice box) and vocal cords. In children, it is often caused by a virus and the onset is slow. Can lead to Croup in younger children.
  • Allergies: When caused by an allergen, like pollen, onset is sudden. Watery eyes and runny nose may also occur
  • Overuse of Vocal Cords: Shouting, yelling or loud singing can cause hoarseness.

Difficulty Swallowing

Dysphagia is the medical term for issues with swallowing. Endoscopic evaluation of swallowing tests are recommended.

Causes

  • Acid Reflux Disease: Most common cause of dysphagia. Often caused by issues in the esophagus, such as an ulcer, a stricture (narrowing of the esophagus), or less likely a cancer.
  • Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EE): Most common in young adults, EE is an allergic inflammatory
    condition of the esophagus. Similar symptoms to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

If throat symptoms include difficulty breathing or swallowing, we recommend seeking immediate specialized medical care.

The Florida Center for Voice & Swallowing was established in in order to offer state-of-the-art diagnosis, treatment and management of voice problems. Our clinical staff has specialized training in the care of the professional and non-professional voice, and is dedicated to helping patients and interested persons understand more about voice function and health. Founding director Daniel A. Vincent, Jr., M.D. is a fellowship trained Laryngologist and board certified Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) surgeon with expertise and experience in the treatment of a wide variety of problems that can affect the voice and the upper airway.

Tampa Speech Pathologists

Florida E.N.T. & Allergy’s Speech and Language Pathologists offer the latest technology speech language pathology and diagnosis of voice disorders. In addition to providing speech language pathology in Tampa,  We also offer evaluation and treatment of swallowing disorders. Our Tampa speech-language pathologists have earned certifications of clinical competence in speech-pathology through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Laryngology


What is Laryngology?

Laryngology is a subspecialty within otolaryngology. Laryngologists specialize in the treatment of disorders of the throat and larynx (voice box), including communication and swallowing disorders.

Who Would need treatment from a laryngologist?

Patients who require the care of a laryngologist are often individuals who use their voices professionally, such as singers, actors, public speakers or teachers.

Other patients who seek laryngological treatment are individuals troubled by perpetual hoarseness, chronic cough or sore throat, difficulty swallowing or problems with voice projection.

Causes of Laryngological Disorders?

Laryngologists are trained to diagnose and treat the underlying causes of throat and voice problems. These causes may include:

  • Overuse or abuse of the voice
  • Anatomical abnormalities
  • Polyps, nodules or cysts of the vocal cords
  • Vascular lesions
  • Gastroesophageal reflux
  • Cancer of the larynx

Laryngological Diagnosis

Most frequently, a laryngoscopy is necessary for accurate diagnosis, but this procedure can often take place during a short period of time right in the doctor’s office. This diagnostic test may be done a number of ways, but always involves the insertion of some type of endoscope into the mouth or nose and down the back of the throat.

Depending on the nature of the problem, a flexible or rigid tube may be used. The laryngoscope will always be fitted with a miniature camera so that the targeted area can be visualized and photographed for later analysis. At times, a tiny video camera, a miniature mirror or a pulsating strobe light may also be used during the examination. The laryngoscope, in addition to being a diagnostic tool, provides treatment options since the doctor can insert tiny surgical instruments through the scope in order to remove tissue for biopsy.

In certain cases, other diagnostic testing is necessary. When the patient is troubled by difficulty swallowing, for example, the laryngologist may administer a barium swallowing study.


Laryngological Treatments

In addition to surgical excisions performed during laryngoscopies, doctors have several other methods for treating disorders of the throat and larynx. At times, simple noninvasive treatments, such as breathing exercises, voice therapy, or medication for acid reflux may be all that is necessary to relieve symptoms. At other times, surgery may be necessary.

It is possible that a tonsillectomy will be required to alleviate pressure and inflammation in the throat or that a thyroplasty, during which a patch of synthetic mesh is placed on the vocal cords, will be recommended. Frequently injection laryngoplasty (vocal cord injections) are of help, although the iarnjections may have to be repeated. In more serious cases of injury or disease, particularly when there is a malignancy present, a full or partial removal of the larynx (laryngectomy) may be performed. The type of surgery performed depends on the nature and severity of the patient’s condition.


Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing

An endoscopic evaluation of swallowing is a test that may be performed to diagnose swallowing difficulties. Patients who suffer from dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, may undergo an endoscopy to determine the cause of their swallowing problem.

The endoscopic evaluation of swallowing test is performed with a thin, lighted tube known as an endoscope. Prior to the procedure, a topical anesthetic may be sprayed in the patient’s nose and throat. The endoscope is then placed into the throat. Food coloring is then placed onto a variety of foods, and fed to the patient. The food coloring makes it easier for the doctor to see how the food travels down the throat. The doctor will then be able to view the throat and swallowing process on a computer screen.

After the test, the speech pathologist will review the results with the requesting physician, and a customized therapy plan will be created to address the individual patient’s condition and treatment.


The Florida Center for Voice & Swallowing is seeing patients in the following locations