What to Know Before Your Functional Laryngoscopy Procedure
If you’ve recently been recommended a Functional Laryngoscopy procedure, there’s probably a lot of things on your mind. First of all – what is involved in this procedure, and how is this going to help you in the long run?
At Speak and Swallow, we’ve recently launched our new service offering in collaboration with trusted local Ear Nose and Throat surgeons because this procedure is so valuable. From accelerating diagnosis and ideal treatment selection to measuring results over time, a Functional Laryngoscopy procedure has a lot to offer – especially when it can be accessed in a timely manner after you first start noticing changes in your breathing or voice function.
Keep on reading to find out what you should know before booking in and attending your Functional Laryngoscopy procedure.
What is a Functional Laryngoscopy Procedure?
To start us off, let’s take a look at what this procedure is. Functional Laryngoscopy is a term used to describe an instrumental assessment – a type of assessment that involves using an ‘instrument’ – in this case, our instrument is called an nasendoscope.
A nasendoscope is a small, medical-grade tube that has a tiny camera on one end that connects to a monitor. In this minimally invasive procedure, the nasendoscopy is passed through the nose in order to get a clear view of the structures involved in speech.
At the beginning of the procedure, the nasendoscope is placed in one nostril and gently moved to the back of your throat to an area above the voice box (larynx). The procedure usually takes ~20 minutes to complete.
Do Functional Laryngoscopy Procedures Hurt?
While the idea of inserting a tube into your nose may sound painful, we can assure you that while there is some mild discomfort at the beginning, this sensation soon goes away. The assessment will only take ~20 minutes to complete, and this is not a procedure that requires any special preparation – no need to worry about fasting or anything like that.
Why Should I Have a Functional Laryngoscopy Procedure?
This type of instrumental assessment may be recommended to you for a number of reasons. If your GP or other medical professional has referred you for an assessment of your voice or breathing, you may be experiencing symptoms such as hypernasal resonance, excessive nasal airflow, nasal escape, nasal turbulence, laryngeal hypersensitivity, or absence of or weak intraoral air pressure.
By having a Functional Laryngoscopy procedure, your treating Speech Pathologist will be able to see what is happening in your throat and investigate what is going on that is contributing to your symptoms. With the support of an experienced Ear Nose and Throat surgeon, your Speech Pathologist will be able to provide you with valuable information and a treatment plan to help you address your breathing, chronic cough, or voice concerns.
Where Can I Go For a Functional Laryngoscopy Procedure?
If you are interested in booking in your Functional Laryngoscopy procedure, that’s great news. The sooner that you can be seen, the sooner you will have answers about what is contributing to your breathing, chronic cough, or voice difficulties and what you can do to see improvements with targeted therapy.
Functional Laryngoscopy procedures are often completed by Ear Nose and Throat Surgery clinics as well as hospitals and other medical clinics. Unfortunately, this can involve significant wait times.
Speak and Swallow Speech Therapy have a team of experienced Speech Pathologists who have completed additional training to be able to safely and effectively perform Functional Laryngoscopy Procedures from a private clinic in Burpengary East. If you are local to the area, or willing to travel, this is a good option for getting your breathing, chronic cough, or voice difficulties addressed sooner. Click here to visit our dedicated website page to learn more about what this procedure involves and make an enquiry today. We’re happy to answer any questions that you have about the Functional Laryngoscopy procedure to help you on your way to getting the support you need.