Patient Education


The ALA is pleased to provide educational content on disorders of voice, swallow, and breathing for patients.

These materials are intended strictly for educational purposes only, and not to be construed as medical advice.

Educational Materials for Patients

Voice, Swallowing, and Your Care Team

  1. Anatomy and Physiology of Voice Production
  2. Anatomy and Physiology of Swallowing
  3. Physiology of Respiration and Cough
  4. Voice Team – the Laryngologist and the Speech Language Pathologist

Common Laryngeal Disorders

  1. Infectious Laryngitis
  2. Laryngeal Cancer
  3. Vocal Fold Leukoplakia and Dysplasia
  4. Reflux Laryngitis
  5. Vocal Cord Swelling / Reinke’s Edema
  6. Laryngeal Papillomatosis
  7. Spasmodic Dysphonia
  8. Vocal Fold Granuloma
  9. Vocal Fold Paresis and Paralysis
  10. Vocal Fold Scar
  11. Vocal Fold Nodules, Polyps, Cysts
  12. Voice Dysfunction in Neurological Disorders
  13. Pediatric Voice Disorders
  14. Presbylaryngis (Aging Voice)
  15. Cricopharyngeal dysfunction
  16. Zenker’s Diverticulum
  17. Esophageal strictures and webs
  18. Laryngotracheal stenosis
  19. Muscular Tension Dysphonia

Laryngeal Procedures

  1. Laryngoscopy and Videostroboscopy
  2. Office endoscopic evaluation of swallowing
  3. Trans-nasal esophagoscopy (TNE)
  4. Videofluoroscopic swallow study (Modified Barium Swallow Study)
  5. Laryngeal electromyography
  6. Laryngeal botulinum toxin (BOTOX) injections
  7. Office injection augmentation/medialization
  8. Office laser treatment
  9. Phonomicrosurgery
  10. Surgery for upper esophageal sphincter (UES) dysfunction – dilation, Botox, and myotomy
  11. Zenker’s diverticulotomy – endoscopic surgery
  12. Zenker’s diverticulectomy – transcervical/open surgery
  13. Surgery for unilateral vocal fold paralysis
  14. Surgery for bilateral vocal fold paralysis
  15. Male-to-female transgender voice surgery
  16. Laryngotracheal stenosis – endoscopic surgery
  17. Laryngotracheal stenosis – open treatment
  18. Esophageal pH Testing and Manometry
  19. Tracheoesophageal puncture and voice after laryngectomy
  20. Tracheostomy
  21. Laryngeal Reinnervation

Other Sources for Information for Patients:

Review Health Information on Voice, Speech, and Language topics from the NIDCD by clicking here.