Most doctors (even ENTs) don’t have the experience it takes to treat singers or anyone with a complex voice disorder. ENTs treat disorders of the ears, nose, head, neck, and throat. Many choose one or more specializations, such as:
pediatric otolaryngology (children)
otology/neurotology (ears, balance, and tinnitus)
allergies
facial plastic and reconstructive surgery
rhinology (nose)
sleep apnea
laryngology (throat)
Even laryngologists may choose subspecialties, such as swallowing disorders or throat cancer, that focus on more than the voice. Singers will want to find a doctor who specializes in treating professional voice users. He or she will understand, for example, that a little breathiness can be a big deal. Or that losing the very top of your vocal range (notes most people don’t know the human voice is capable of) is a tragedy. Or that vocal fatigue can be an occupational hazard.
If you’re shopping for a voice-savvy ENT, look for an otolaryngologist who has completed a fellowship in Laryngology and the Care of the Professional Voice. There are just over 20 such fellowship programs in the United States.
In the Philadelphia region where I teach, I recommend:
Robert Sataloff • Philadelphia Ear, Nose and Throat Associates: www.phillyent.com • 219 N Broad St, 10th Fl • Philadelphia PA 19107 • 215-762-5531
Joseph Spiegel • Thomas Jefferson University: 925 Chestnut Street, 6th floor • Philadelphia, PA 19107 • 215-955-6760
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia - Voice Clinic: www.chop.edu • 34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard • Philadelphia, PA 19104 • 215-590-1000
For those who are outside the Philadelphia region, I recommend looking for a large hospital with a voice center that employs laryngologists and speech-language pathologists who specialize in voice. Examples include:
Alabama (Birmingham): University of Alabama at Birmingham Voice Center
California
Colorado (Aurora): University of Colorado’s Voice and Airway Department
Connecticut
Farmington: UConn Health’s Speech and Voice Department
Greenwich: Yale Medicine’s Voice Center
Florida
Georgia (Atlanta): Emory Voice Center
Illinois:
Chicago: Center for Voice at Northwestern
Chicago: Chicago Institute for Voice Care
Downers Grove: Bastian Voice Institute
Iowa: University of Iowa Health Care: Speech, Voice, and Swallowing Disorders
Maryland (Baltimore): Johns Hopkins Voice Center
Massachusetts (Boston):
Michigan (Ann Arbor): University of Michigan Health: Vocal Health Center at Taubman
Minnesota:
New Jersey (various): Penn Medicine Becker ENT and Allergy
New York (New York):
North Carolina
Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Voice Center
Durham and Raleigh: Duke Voice Care Center
Winston-Salem: Wake Forest Baptist Health Voice and Swallowing Center
Ohio:
Oregon
Pennsylvania:
Philadelphia: Penn Medicine Voice and Swallowing Center
Philadelphia: Robert Sataloff, Philadelphia Ear, Nose and Throat AssociatesPhiladelphia: Thomas Jefferson University Voice and Swallowing Center
Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Voice Center
Tenneesee (Nashville): Vanderbilt Voice Center
Texas
South Carolina (Charleston): MUSC’s Institute for Voice and Swallowing
Washington (DC): George Washington University’s Speech and Hearing Center
Washington (Seattle): Washington University School of Medicine, Otolaryngology
Wisconsin
However, many regions of the country do not have a large voice clinic, and you would be well-served by finding any fellowship-trained laryngologist. I recommend visiting the website of the American Laryngological Association, where you can search for members by location. The search feature does not function perfectly, but it provides a place to start.
Disclaimer: This blog post does not constitute medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment, or services. It simply provides general information for educational purposes only. This information is not a substitute for medical or professional care, and you should not consider it a substitute for a consultation with a physician or other healthcare provider.
