Center for Voice and Swallowing Disorders

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: Chris Ramsey, cramsey@kumc.edu.