Gender Affirmation Voice Surgery — Thieme Chapter

Home›Clinical & Educational›Can Someone Have a Voice Without Vocal Cords? Story of patient Mary Marlboro — larynx removed for cancer, used electrolarynx then developed esophageal phonation. Voice = sound source + amplifying resonator (no vocal cords required). The two fundamental characteristics of voice: pitch and volume. Wind chimes metaphor. References the book. Migration note: Part…

Home›Clinical & Educational›Gender Affirmation Voice Surgery — Thieme Chapter Announcement of book chapter published in Gender Affirmation Medical and Surgical Perspectives (Thieme, eds. Salgado, Monstrey, Djordjevic). Chapter pages 31–50 covers multiple surgical approaches for male-to-female voice modification with complete photographic documentation of Feminization Laryngoplasty and surgical technique details. Available from Thieme and Amazon. Migration note:…

Home›Clinical & Educational›Vocal Cord Paralysis: Lateral Cricoarytenoid (LCA) Paresis Video post. Discussion with a colleague about vocal cord weakness — reviewing how to identify LCA paresis by focusing on the movement and position of the vocal processes. YouTube link. Migration note: Connects to the Neurolaryngology section (Part II Structural) and Part III Laryngoscopy.

Home›Clinical & Educational›Video and the Voice Why video recording of vocal cords is essential — most vocal events happen too fast for live perception; stroboscopy needed to slow and reveal. Rigid vs. flexible endoscopy approaches. If patients can view video of their own cords, they can often assess whether their physician’s explanation makes sense. References…

Home›Clinical & Educational›Feminization Laryngoplasty — WPATH 2016 Presentation at 23rd WPATH Symposium, Amsterdam, July 20, 2016. Describes the five procedures then utilized to alter pitch: (1) Cricothyroid approximation (Thyroplasty Type I), (2) Vocal cord webbing / VFSAAC / Wendler Glottoplasty, (3) Laser reduction — CO2 (LAVA / Laser Glottoplasty), (4) Laser vocal cord tuning —…

Home›Clinical & Educational›Assessing Your Doctor’s Diagnosis Patient empowerment post. Three questions to assess diagnostic quality: Do I understand the explanation? Do I understand why the intervention should work? Do I understand what my physician is uncertain about? The larynx obeys the laws of physics — a mechanical valve and vibrating string. Accurate diagnosis should be…