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Airway, Voice, and Swallowing

Division of Laryngology

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The Airway, Voice, and Swallowing Center is world renowned as a leading multidisciplinary center designed to serve patients with voice, airway, and swallowing disorders. We provide advanced medical, surgical, and behavioral services for the accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment of a wide range of voice and speech complaints, swallowing complaints, and other disorders of the upper airway, including larynx and trachea.

Nationally and internationally, we are recognized for our fellowship-trained otolaryngologists (laryngologists) and speech-language pathologists who are voice and swallowing specialists. Our team also includes an Advanced Healthcare Provider (AHP) team comprised of Physician Assistants (PAs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) who work collaboratively with physicians to provide excellent patient care. We work closely with neurologists, pulmonologists, and physical therapists to care for the entire patient and manage their voice and swallowing difficulties in a holistic environment. Together, we strive to provide personalized, comprehensive care for each patient that enters our center.

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See how the UCSF Voice and Swallowing Center partners with the San Francisco Opera to keep singers healthy.

Airway Disorders

Breathing is an essential activity for living. As a result, any restriction in breathing can be distressing and at worst, life-threatening. At our Center we routinely evaluate and treat upper airway disorders including:

  • Bilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis
  • Irritable Larynx
  • Laryngotracheal Stenosis
  • Posterior Glottic Stenosis

Voice and Speech Disorders

Regardless of whether one is a world class opera singer, an attorney, a teacher or a parent, everyone depends on his or her voice in the course of everyday life. Voice problems are disabling and the diagnosis and treatment of voice complaints can be challenging. Our team is dedicated to moving through this process with you.

Hoarseness can be the result of a vast diversity of conditions. Problems treated at our Center include:

  • Benign Vocal Fold Lesions
  • Early Larynx Cancer
  • Larygopharyngeal Reflux (LPR)
  • Muscle Tension Dysphonia
  • Neurological Voice disorders
    • Parkinson’s Disease
    • Spasmodic Dysphonia
    • Vocal Tremor
  • Papillomatosis
  • Professional Voice
  • Transgender Voice and Communication
  • Vocal Fold Motion Impairment

Additionally, we treat patients with neurological speech difficulties related to demyelinating and basal ganglia disorders such as ALS, PLS, Pseudobulbar palsy and Parkinson’s disease.

Swallowing Disorders

Swallowing, like breathing, is yet another vital function of the larynx. Yet, beyond just the sustainment of life, swallowing also contributes to the quality of life. One cannot fully experience a delicious holiday dinner or a special glass of wine without good swallowing function. We work with patients presenting with a range of swallowing complaints including:

  • Cricopharyngeal Bar
  • Oropharyngeal Dysphagia
  • Zenker’s Diverticulum

After head and neck cancer treatment, one’s ability to swallow is the most important factor in determining overall happiness. Our team of board certified otolaryngologists-head and neck surgeons and specialized speech language pathologists work with cancer survivors who have impaired swallowing as a result of their disease or treatment. If recurrent or persistent cancer is identified by a member of our team, we will work with the patient to identify optimal oncological treatment, while preserving the best speech and swallowing function possible.

Speech and Language Pathologists