Voice recording and vocal fold photography in the ENT office setting

When a laryngologist treats a patient with a voice disorder it is often important to evaluate the sound of the voice over a long period of time and to demonstrate to the patient changes due to therapy. This may be vital to patient management especially when the results fail to correspond with the patient's expectations or when the voice is used professionally. Visualization of the vocal folds by the use of a mirror may be adequate for the diagnostic needs of the laryngologist, but a permanent record of laryngological features permits the sharing of objective information with referring physician, consultant, therapist, and, most importantly, with the patient. The illustrations can also be extremely useful in teaching.