Usefulness and Feasibility of Ultrasound in Office Laryngology Procedures

Adult patients who are seen at the Sean Parker Institute for the Voice and are determined to have neurogenic cough for which superior laryngeal nerve block is recommended will undergo this procedure under ultrasound guidance. Patients without neurogenic cough will also be recruited for ultrasound assessment to establish landmarks and normal variation. Patients will be assessed for their comfort with undergoing the procedure and clinicians will be surveyed on the ease and benefit of performing the procedure under ultrasound guidance.

Adult patients who are seen at the Sean Parker Institute for the Voice and are determined to have vocal fold atrophy or vocal fold paresis/paralysis for whom injection laryngoplasty is recommended will undergo laryngeal ultrasound prior to the procedure to assess baseline anatomy as well as following the procedure (both immediately following the procedure as well as at follow-up visits) in order to assess the amount of injectate.

Patients with and without swallowing complaints will be enrolled to assess their tongue, suprahyoid and infrahyoid musculature, including muscle identification, bulk and function.

Adult patients who are seen at the Sean Parker Institute for the Voice and are determined to have muscle tension dysphonia will undergo ultrasonography during their visit with laryngology or speech language pathology.