Diagnosis and Treatment of Vocal Problems In Professional Voice Users: Part 2 of 2

However, Dr. Ossoff was adamant about the responsibility of otolaryngologists to refer a patient for surgery for a suspected neoplasm. If you think that someone may have a cancer, you have a major-league obligation to take them to the operating room to biopsy it and prove or disprove that, he said.

Need for Expert Laryngologists for the Professional Voice User

Recognition of the particular needs of professional voice users has given rise to more intensive training for otolaryngologists who treat them. A number of fellowship programs within otolaryngology departments now exist throughout the country in which otolaryngologists receive an additional year of advanced training in different areas, including laryngology. The need for this special training is perhaps highlighted by the relatively recent case of the unexpected adverse effects that occurred after Julie Andrews underwent surgery to correct vocal problems. Although Dr. Sataloff doesn’t think the focus on the Andrews case has changed protocols for how patients are treated by laryngologists, he does think that her story may have increased awareness of the need for expert, state-of-the-art care in all voice professionals and certainly world-class performers.

For Dr. Woo, the experience highlights two aspects of the specialized nature of working with professional voice users. One is to recognize that certain surgeries are a subspecialty within otolaryngology and should be done only by experts in that area. And the second, he says, is almost a backlash. An average otolaryngologist sometimes doesn’t feel comfortable taking care of these people [professional voice users], so sometimes these people are shunted, he said. A lot of doctors are afraid and it’s actually a disservice to the singers because doctors don’t want to treat singers.

©2007 The Triological Society