The Professional Voice

This chapter reviews the fundamental knowledge and technique necessary to care for professional voice users. The care of patients who use their voices professionally requires knowledge and skills not easily mastered within the field of otolaryngology alone, relying heavily on input from the fields of speech-language pathology and vocal pedagogy. Additionally, it requires an understanding of the basic theory and physiology of voice production, as well as a comprehension of the maladaptive behaviors and conditions that can lead to inefficient voicing and vocal fold lesions. The tools for physical examination, including stroboscopy, and the treatment of voice conditions must be understood within this multidisciplinary context.