Head and Neck Speech Pathology

Introduction

The Head and Neck Speech Pathology Service provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment for pediatric and adult patients with voice, speech and swallowing problems. These problems can be very debilitating for patients.

Voice problems can develop from voice abuse, misuse or overuse and can result in the development of benign vocal fold lesions, such as nodules or polyps, as well as result in acute trauma to the larynx, such as vocal fold hemmorrhage. Voice problems can also be caused by vocal fold paralysis, often resulting in a very breathy, weak voice, voice loss. In addition, vocal fold paralysis can sometimes result in aspiration of foods and liquids. Voice problems can also occur in the aging voice. Patients with head and neck cancer who undergo partial laryngectomy surgery, such as hemilaryngectomy which involves removal of one vocal fold, typically have voice problems, as do patients who undergo radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Those patients who undergo total laryngectomy, or removal of the entire larynx, need to be trained in other ways to communicate. Voice problems also stem from neurologic problems, including spasmodic dysphonia, Parkinson's disease, stroke, and traumatic brain injury. Voice problems can also result from paradoxical vocal fold dysfunction.

Speech problems can occur because of functional problems, such as imprecise productions of specific sounds, such as "s" or "r" that have. Although not a "disorder", some individuals desire training in accent reduction. Speech problems can also result from head and neck cancer surgery, such as oral cancer surgery, which involves removal of part of the tongue.

Swallowing problems can result from a variety of causes, including head and neck cancer surgery, radiotherapy to the head and neck, vocal cord surgery, neurosurgery, spinal cord surgery, and cardiac surgery. In addition, patients can develop swallowing problems after prolonged intubation, acute (such as stroke or traumatic brain injury) and progressive (such as ALS, Parkinson's disease, M.S.) neurologic disease, or a weakened condition due to prolonged illness.

Cathy Lazarus, PhD,Faculty speech-language pathologist, specializes in management of voice and swallowing problems. She received her B.S., M.A. and Ph.D. from Northwestern University. She holds her Certificate in Clinical Competence in Speech Pathology and is licensed in New York. Dr. Lazarus is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, New York State Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the Dysphagia Research Society.

She provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment for patients with a variety of voice, speech and swallowing problems. She has also been conducting research in the area of normal and abnormal swallowing and management of swallowing disorders.