Laryngectomy

Watching my friends’ face quiver in disgust after recounting my experience of a videofluoroscopicy and my excitement from viewing the barium travel through the oropharyngeal and pharyngeal phases of swallowing, I realized I wanted to study the extraordinary field of Communication Sciences and Disorders. During my undergraduate career at East Carolina University, my anatomy and physiology class further fostered my enthusiasm for the field when discovering how intricate and complex it is for the human body to perform a simple task such as breathing and swallowing. I was able to utilize my thirst for knowledge of the human anatomy working in Dr. Perry’s Speech Imaging and Visualization Laboratory and enhance my writing skills by reviewing peer reviewed journal articles. Ultimately working and observing lab assistants create 3D anatomical models of the laryngeal mechanism, velopharyngeal mechanism, swallowing mechanism, skull and cranium,

The opportunity to observe the work overview of a Speech Pathologist, has tremendously solidified my interest in this field. At the Diana Rogovin Speech Center at Brooklyn College, I observed clients of various ages with different speech language disorders including articulation, language, voice, fluency and accent modification. Observing clinicians at the speech center gave me the opportunity to learn how important client-clinician interaction is for the session and how essential it is to build a good relationship with the client. Although I learned the

Selection of the best techniques varies from person to person depending on their age and personal preferences. Esophageal speech is popular among laryngectomies because it costs less and can provide a more normal sounding voice than some of the other options.

Some of the duties of a speech pathologist are, but are not limited to, evaluate patients’ levels of speech, language, or swallowing difficulty, identify treatment options, teach patients how to make sounds and improve their voices, work with patients to develop and strengthen the muscles used to swallow, and counsel patients and families on how to cope with communication and swallowing disorders (Duties, www.bls.org, 2015). ‘If the speech-language pathologists work in medical facilities, they work with physicians and surgeons, social workers, psychologists, and other healthcare workers’ (Duties, www.bls.org, 2015).

On Thursday, December 3rd, 2015 at 2:00 PM I observed an hour and forty five minute secession at East Stroudsburg’s Speech and Hearing Center. East Stroudsburg’s Speech and Hearing Center is located on campus, in the town of East Stroudsburg PA, on the second floor of Monroe (building). The clinic at ESU was very clean and organized. It had multiple therapy and diagnostic rooms that were set up nicely and welcoming for a client. The types of population seen at the ESU’s clinic range from any age for speech therapy or audiological visits. The clinical audiologist I observed was Susan Dillmuth- Miller Au.D., CCC-A, FAAA..

Personal Statement My aspiration to become a speech pathologist is the culmination of a life-long interest in science and the human voice. As a sophomore in college I became serious about acting and musical theater and was recruited into the state reparatory acting program at Cal State Fullerton. At Cal State, I continued singing and playing lead parts in productions. I found a particular affinity for manipulating my voice for theatrical dialects, and developing optimal vocal support and projection on stage.

As a Speech Language Pathologist it is my responsibility to provide a means of communication to any individual who has an impairment as it relates to communication. No matter how severe the deficit may be as it relates to cognitive functioning, motor skills,etc.. and any other disability that may impact the traditional means of communication. A Speech language Pathologist who works with individuals who require the use of an Augmentative and alternative communication device, must keep in mind that it is their responsibility to make sure that more than one mode of alternative and or augmentative can be used, monitor the progression of intervention as well as evaluate the individual and most importantly keep up to date with current practice through

The speech-language pathologists (SLPs) at Martin Health System (MHS) evaluate, diagnose, and treat a diverse patient population who present with a myriad of medical issues, the most common of which is a condition known as dysphagia. More than 80% of patients referred to an SLP at our facility present with this diagnosis. Broadly characterized by trouble swallowing, dysphagia includes everything from painful swallows, to coughing or choking while eating and drinking, or even a sensation of a lump in throat, . Complications of dysphagia can lead to dehydration, malnutrition, and respiratory problems such as aspiration pneumonia, fatigue, cognitive confusion, decreased quality of life, or even death.

Speech therapy covers a wide range of different tasks to preform and individuals to help, existing to improve lives and have a deep understanding of communication.

It is common for people with vocal fold nodules to improve without the need for surgery (Simpson B al., et 2008). Speech-Language Pathologists have to be mindful of using evidence-based practices

A speech-language pathologist’s job is to assess, diagnose, treat, and help prevent communication and swallowing disorders in patients. The typical salary for a speech-language pathologist is around $73,410 a year (“Speech”). To enter into this career field, a master's degree is required. Speech pathology has many benefits, including a variety of work environments, working with diverse patients, the ability to be self-employed, the relationships built with patients, and so on. The type of work settings a speech pathologist could work in are public schools, hospitals, home health, and private practice. In school’s speech pathologists work with

Vocal fold paralysis is diagnosed by an otolaryngologist through the use of endoscopy, laryngostroboscopy, and laryngeal electromyography. Two types of endoscopes may be used to visualize the vocal folds. One type is a rigid endoscope that is placed in the back of the oral cavity with a camera pointing down

The success of speech therapy intervention is dependent on successful surgical correction. The authors note that postsurgical complications may include stiffness due to scar tissue decreasing the flexibility of the velum, tethering of the velum, weakness of the velum, and shrinking of the velar tissues. The authors also note the risk of malocclusion as the child grows and the palate continues to grow and develop.

Vicky has returned for review six weeks since the last appointment. Overall she has been quite well during that time, but having paid closer attention, is reporting intermittent episodes of laryngospasm/vocal cord dysfunction. Specifically after extended periods of talking, Vicky is noticing some tightness in her larynx and at times dysphonia. She may also become slightly breathless, but with slow breathing and resting her voice, her symptoms settle within a few minutes. Separate to this, she has also noted intermittent retrosternal tightness and mild dyspnoea that is consistently relieved with belching. She is no reporting any exertional symptoms.

Common head and neck surgery includes the removal of the voice box: largyngectomy and tracheostomy: making an incision on the anterior aspect of the neck and opening an airway through an incision in the trachea. The removal of the larynx occurs in cases of laryngeal cancer and in this case the airway is separated from the mouth, nose and oesophagus meaning that the patient will breathe through a stoma in the neck. In tracheostomy cases the resulting stoma can act as an airway and a tracheotomy tube is inserted, enabling the individual to breathe without the use of their nose and mouth.