Welcome to Voicedoctor.net where you can find medically oriented information about your vocal cords, the voice and hoarseness.

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Diagnose describes one very accurate method for sorting out the cause of a voice problem.

Therapy discusses suggested treatments for hoarseness ranging from vocal cord polyps and nodules to spasmodic dysphonia.

Surgery covers procedures done on the vocal cords to restore function or change the voice in some way.

Media includes photos, video and audio recordings of the vocal cords and of disorders causing hoarseness.

Links refers you on to other interesting sites.

Physician is information about the author of the site. Contact Dr. Thomas

Study with Dr. Thomas

Performing Arts Medical Conference Saturday August 7th, 2010 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Legacy Emanuel Hospital Portland, Oregon To Register: (503) 478-1845

James Thomas performing a microlaryngoscopy in the operating room to correct a vocal cord disorder.

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Voice - a definition:

Voice is sound - vibration. For a pure, clear voice, the vocal cords come together and vibrate, allowing pulses of air to leave the voice box and create a pure musical tone. That musical tone we describe in terms of pitch and volume. It comes from the larynx and we use it mainly to carry speech over a distance and we use it for emotion.

Speech is the modification of sound by the pharynx, palate, tongue, mouth and lips. Speech is information, information that is carried by the voice.

Hoarseness - a definition:

Hoarseness is a common term for a voice problem. It is important to understand what the word hoarsness represents. Hoarseness is "unwanted air leak". Any disorder that disrupts that flow of air, allowing a leak, causes hoarseness. There are two basic disruptions.

When the vocal cords do not come together completely there is a continuous leak of air - turbulent airflow, making a "white noise". Think of a whisper where the vocal cords are held apart with no vibration of the vocal cords. A whisper is pure white noise. There is only turbulent air flow. Add an unwanted air leak to vocal cord vibrations and that is hoarseness.

The other type of hoarsness is the irregular, unwanted leak of air. When something changes the weight or tension of one vocal cord relative to the other vocal cord, they no longer vibrate at the same pitch and that creates a hoarseness (or dysphonia) that can range from pure diplophonia (two separate notes) to a very fractured sound as the vocal cords crash into each other and irregularily disrupt the vibrations of each other.

Case Histories

Fungal laryngitis added 4/24/2008. Potent inhaled steroids are causing this issue more and more frequently.

Singers nodules added 5/22/2007

Unusual foreign body added 5/7/2007

Video lectures

A close laryngeal exam - How to obtain a detailed view of the vocal cords. 3/7/2010

A close laryngeal exam - How to obtain a detailed view of the vocal cords. 3/7/2010

Vocal Cord Stripping - What happens when vocal cords are stripped. 2/3/2010

My vocal cord polyp - Mustafa's polyp. 1/27/2010

Laryngoscopy - The art of seeing the vocal cords. 1/20/2010

Anesthesia of the larynx - How to get a better laryngeal exam with anesthesia. 12/23/2009

Reflux Laryngitis - A video examining the concept of reflux laryngitis. 11/5/2008

Medialization Laryngoplasty - A video on how Dr. Thomas performs the surgical procedure. 10/29/2008

Vocal nodules - A video explaining the effects of vocal nodules. 10/22/2008

Hyperfunction - What does it mean? 1/24/2007

Surgical Pitch Change given at the Voice Foundation meeting on 6/4/2005.

Bilateral Vocal cord paralysis given at the Voice Foundation meeting on 6/5/2005.

Feminization Laryngoplasty given at the HBIGDA meeting on 4/8/2005.

Diagnosis of vocal cord paralysis given at the Oregon Academy of Otolaryngology meeting on 2/20/2004.

Think of this site as a medical text book that you have been able to look at in a medical library. You are free to browse. If you have a medical background you may be able to digest the information. If you don't have medical training then you may wish to use it with your own physician.

All content on this website (including text, photographs, audio files, video files and any other original works), unless otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.

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Contact information for Dr. Thomas.

Vocal cord photos

Voicedoctor.net represents the opinions of its author - James P. Thomas, M.D. It is my attempt to inform you, the web-surfer, about the vocal cords, voice problems or what causes hoarseness from a physicians perspective. It is specifically not meant to establish a doctor patient relationship with you. It may be used to support the existing relationship that you have with your present physician. I have an office in Oregon where patients who wish to be seen and establish a relationship may reach me. The information on this site represents my understanding of the voice and comes primarily from my study with other physicians, most particularly laryngologists (doctors specializing in voice problems). Journal references are provided where appropriate. This site has not been peer reviewed as a medical journal might be. This site is funded entirely by James P. Thomas, MD. There is no advertising on the site. Please understand the contents of this site and probably most sites with medical information in this light.