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The Role of Voice Therapy in Treating Symptoms of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux

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Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease

Abstract

Voice therapy is an effective adjunct to the medical treatment of laryngopharyngeal reflux and its sequelae, including dysphonia. This chapter discusses the role of the speech-language pathologist in treating symptoms of laryngopharyngeal reflux. This is accomplished by reviewing the indications for and general principles of voice therapy in this population. An overview of the speech-language pathologist assessment and basic therapeutic approaches is provided. The authors review specific components of the speech-language pathologist evaluation such as the value of laryngeal visualization, objective and subjective measures, and stimulability testing. Functional contributors to symptoms such as vocal subsystem imbalance, supraglottic hyperfunction, extra-laryngeal muscle tension, degree of voice demand, and vocal hygiene are also discussed. Direct and indirect therapy techniques and typical therapy goals are described. Finally, specific laryngopharyngeal reflux-related laryngeal pathologies and their associated symptoms are detailed from the management standpoint of the speech-language pathologist. These include laryngitis, vocal process granuloma, vocal cord dysfunction, paradoxical vocal fold motion, chronic cough, laryngospasm, benign vocal fold lesions, and muscle tension dysphonia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Speech Pathology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple Head and Neck Institute, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Barbara Ebersole & Liane McCarroll

Authors
  1. Barbara Ebersole
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  2. Liane McCarroll
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Correspondence to Barbara Ebersole .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Edinburg, TX, USA

    Nausheen Jamal

  2. Department of Head and Neck Surgery, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Marilene B. Wang

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Ebersole, B., McCarroll, L. (2019). The Role of Voice Therapy in Treating Symptoms of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux. In: Jamal, N., Wang, M. (eds) Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12318-5_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12318-5_7

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-12317-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-12318-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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