Center for Voice and Swallow Disorders

Faculty

J. David Garnett, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Lee Reussner, M.D.

Overview

Established in 1991, the Center for Voice and Swallowing Disorders at the University of Kansas Medical Center is a multidisciplinary group which has helped hundreds of adults and children with the diagnosis and treatment of voice and swallowing disorders. J. David Garnett, MD, FACS, a fellowship trained laryngologist and phonosurgeon is the director. Other members of the group include Lee Reussner, MD an otolaryngologist with and interest in voice disorders; Daniel Bruegger, MD and Julie Wei, MD, pediatric otolaryngologists; and Richard Dubinski, MD, a neurologist with a special interest in movement disorders and EMG. Kristen Linnemeyer, CCC/SLP and Lisa Kelley, CCC-SLP, are speech pathologists with interests in voice swallowing and disroders both work within the center.

Disorders treated include:

• Benign lesions of the larynx: nodules, polyps, Reinke's edema, cysts, granuloma, papilloma, keratosis, sulcus vocalis, larygoceles, vocal fold scarring, presbylaryngitis
• Congenital anomalies: Stenosis, webs, laryngeal clefts, and laryngomalacia
• Hyperfunctional disorders: abuse and misuse of the voice
• Laryngeal cancer: early detection, preoperative counseling and post-laryngectomy voice acquisition
• Laryngeal trauma: fractures, scarring, post-intubation arytenoid dislocation
• Neurogenic disorders: vocal fold paresis/paralysis, spasmodic dysphonia, voice and swallowing disorders related to Parkinson's, ALS, and other movement conditions
• Psychogenic disorders: conversion dysphonia, puberphonia, stuttering (vocal onset type)
• Reflux laryngitis (globus pharyngeus): diagnosis, medical, and dietary treatment
• Swallowing abnormalities: diagnosis and therapy for neuromuscular disease, post CVA bulbar and suprabulbar palsy, sensory deficit, cricopharyngeal spasm and aspiration.

Special Assessment Procedures:

• Videolaryngostroboscopy
• Computerized acoustic analysis
• Perceptual voice analysis by trained speech pathologist
• Electroglottography
• Esophageal insufflation to evaluate for tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP)
• Laryngeal EMG
• Oral-pharyngeal swallowing study
• Esophageal and pharyngeal pH and manometry study
• Neurosensory pharyngeal swallowing testing

Special Treatments:

• Professional voice, diagnosis and management of special vocal problems experienced by the professional voice user
• Voice therapy, including pre- and post-laryngectomy counseling, post-laryngectomy speech training
• (TEP usage and esophageal speech), and therapy for velopharyngeal incompetence
• Botox injections for all forms of laryngeal and pharyngeal dystonia, crico-pharyngeal spasm,
• oro-mandibular dystonia, paradoxical inspiratory stridor
• Vocal fold injection, an autologous fat injection for scarring and augmentation, collagen, and gelfoam for temporary augmentation
• Laryngeal framework surgery, for recurrent and superior laryngeal nerve paralysis
• Micro laryngeal laser surgery
• Laryngeal reconstruction
• Phono microsurgery for vocal fold lesions
• Swallowing surgery: cricopharyngeal myotomy, laryngeal suspension and sensory restoration therapy
• Patient education for all voice pathology
• Swallowing Therapy for dysphagia
• Vital Stim Therapy
• Transnasal esophagoscopy

For general information regarding services offered through the Center for Voice and Swallowing Disorders or to schedule appointments, call (913) 588-6534, FAX: (913) 588-6708, Email: Stephanie Williamson, swilliamson2@kumc.edu.