When dealing with vocal issues, such as hoarseness or laryngitis, you’ll want to identify the problem quickly, especially if you’re a teacher, restaurant server or professional singer whose voice is important to your career.
If you have a constant sore throat that won’t go away or other nagging problems, you’ll be anxious to know what’s causing the issue so you can figure out how to fix it.
One of the simplest ways the voice and swallowing specialists at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, can diagnose voice disorders is with a laryngoscopy. The procedure will guide our decisions about how to treat you, and as one of the largest voice and swallowing centers in the country, we’ll have the resources and expertise to solve any of your health concerns.
What is laryngoscopy?
A laryngoscopy is a procedure that enables a voice and swallowing doctor to examine the larynx (voice box), vocal cords and other structures in the throat.
The larynx houses your vocal cords, which help you speak and sing. It sits between your throat and windpipe.
During this procedure, we’ll put a small flexible tube with a camera on the tip, called a laryngoscope, into your mouth or nose and down your throat to analyze your voice box. Sometimes the instrument can be used to remove a tissue sample for a biopsy, which can be done in an outpatient or office setting.
There are two types of laryngoscopes:
- A direct laryngoscopy – This is when a tube called a laryngoscope is used to look directly at the larynx. The laryngoscope is either flexible or rigid, depending on why the procedure is being done.
- An indirect laryngoscopy – Another form of laryngoscopy doesn’t involve a scope. Instead, a doctor uses a headlight and a tiny, tilted mirror to investigate the back of the throat.
Why do you need a laryngoscopy?
There are a variety of reasons why we might recommend a laryngoscopy. This procedure can serve as not only a diagnostic tool, but it can also be used to acquire a tissue sample for testing as well as treat certain disorders.
Reasons you might need a laryngoscopy include:
- To see the inside of your throat, which is often the first step in figuring out your problem
- To look for inflammation or blockages
- To further examine abnormal spots seen on a CT scan
- To get a biopsy sample of abnormal tissue to see if it’s cancer
- To treat some voice problems, including removing tumors or polyps using incisions or small lasers
- To remove foreign objects