Hearing Loss Helped Thru Music Therapy

Image courtesy of surasakiStock at  FreeDigitalPhotos.net   I have observed that musicians tend to cope with hearing loss much better than those without a music background, even if both have the same level of hearing loss on a hearing test. In particular, musicians with hearing loss tend to understand speech much better in noisy environments whereas non-musicians with hearing loss have trouble even with a hearing aid . I have also noticed that as one ages, understanding speech in noisy e…

6/24/2017 0

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Hillary Clinton's Constant Throat-Clearing

Image by Gage Skidmore in Wikipedia Many viewers noted that presidential nominee,  Hillary Clinton , constantly cleared her throat during her speech at the Democratic National Convention on July 28, 2016 (watch video below). About 22 times in fact.  Media have noted that this throat problem has been going on for far longer... since January 2016. Why is she clearing her throat so often? Why is she coughing so much? Is it manufactured  as some have suggested? Or could there be a medi…

8/07/2016 0

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How Good is the Sound With a "Bionic" Ear? [Audio Simulations]

Given the media exposure (and popular  YouTube videos ) of patients getting their "bionic ear" turned on with subsequent tears of joy... there is an often mistaken belief that such bionic ears, otherwise known as cochlear implants , provide superior hearing compared to an ordinary hearing aid . A cochlear implant is actually implanted through the skull and directly into the cochlea rather than placed on the outside of the ear (watch video ). Well, this blog article will try to pro…

6/28/2015 0

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What Does the Uvula Do?

Given how frequently doctors look in peoples' mouths, physicians probably get asked this question a dozen times a day by curious patients.  This question of uvular function also extended into ancient times with a variety of theories proposed over the years... Hippocrates and Aristotle in the 4th century B.C. and Berenargio da Carpri in 1900 referred to the uvula only as a source of possible inflammation and edema capable of causing suffocation. Galen (122-199 A.D.) considered it to be…

5/31/2015 0

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How Often Does Tongue Tie Release Improve Breastfeeding? What about Speech?

In the last blog article , we discussed the controversy around tongue tie release that exists from ancient to modern times. According to modern research, cautious support exists for tongue tie release regarding breastfeeding but not speech difficulties. So what did the research actually show? Statistically, tongue tie release improves/resolves breastfeeding problems ~80% of the time within 4 weeks, often within 48 hours. The percentage is lower if birth defects are present. Summary of the…

3/22/2015 0

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Does Tongue Tie Cause Breastfeeding Difficulties and Speech Problems?

Although there is both objective and subjective evidence that tongue tie contributes to breastfeeding difficulties and speech problems, when it comes to quality evidence-based research, the data is a bit lacking. And because of this sparseness, tongue tie release is actually considered a controversial topic with both supporters and detractors (personally, I am a supporter of this procedure). Among the detractors, tongue tie release is considered unusual and unnecessary... even bizarre. To…

3/20/2015 1

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Hearing Test Administered Over the Phone

I was just made aware of this service in a Washington Post article published May 16, 2014. This screening hearing test is taken over the telephone and accomplished by listening to three-digit sequences presented in a background of white noise. The test-taker has to then enter the digits using the telephone keypad. Based on accuracy of the response, the test than adjusts the next query. Normally, the cost to take this telephone hearing test is $8, but at least for the month of May 2014, it …

5/18/2014 0

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Device that Allows Intubated Patients to Talk

Image by Calleamanecer in Wikipedia There is nothing worse than to be very sick. It's even worse if you are intubated in the ICU (intensive care unit) being poked and prodded constantly. Traditionally, such sick intubated patients (if alert) will communicate by writing on a clipboard which is often frustrating to not just the patient, but also family members and healthcare professionals trying to care for the patient. However, NEJM reported on the use of an electrolarynx to allow …

3/22/2014 0

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How Ears Tune In and Out Certain Sounds

Ever wonder how humans with normal hearing are able to "hear" what one person is saying in a crowded room where many people are talking? How is it that the ear is able to tune in and out of conversations going around, especially when everybody in a room is talking equally loud? To understand this ear "tuning" ability, one needs to first understand that the ear incorporates two "aspects" that allow for good hearing: a volume knob and an antenna. Should the volum…

3/21/2014 0

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How to Describe Hoarseness?

At heart, physicians are science geeks. And when it comes to a raspy voice , one can go truly bananas in how exactly to describe how a raspy voice sounds. For the layperson, when asked to describe a hoarse voice, one often gets imprecise answers to a question most feel ridiculous... I often get a blank look with an answer that goes something like "You know... raspy... it's not clear." Unfortunately, such a description is inadequate. Even when using more descriptors like deeper…

11/16/2013 0

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New Video on Tongue Tie Release Procedure

Tongue tie is a common problem whereby a flap of tissue anchors the tongue tip to the bottom of the mouth. With tongue tie , it is impossible for a patient to stick the tongue straight out (licking an ice cream is impossible) and may potentially lead to problems with feeding in a newborn baby, speech articulation in a young school-age child, and french kissing in teenagers and older. Due to the frequency at which tongue tie release is performed and the questions parents often have about h…

7/01/2013 0

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How the Voice Anatomically Reverberates to Produce Speech

Came across this old school animation showing how sound produced in the voicebox reverberates in the upper airway, mouth, and nasal cavity to produce speech that everybody else hears. To watch what it looks like from the inside, check this video out. Source: FFFFound! 5/23/11

4/26/2013 0

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Dr. Chang Quoted in the Wall Street Journal

The Wall Street Journal on 3/15/13 published a story on how voice therapy and vocal surgery can dramatically improve a person's vocal quality... seemingly taking years away from how you sound. In this story, Dr. Chang was quoted a few times and even included a patient he has treated successfully with voice surgery to restore his voice. In regards to how aging can create muscle atrophy and bowing resulting in: "It creates a breathy, raspy voice," says Christopher Y. C…

3/17/2013 1

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Hearing and Understanding ONE Voice Among Many Sounds

Have you ever wondered how is it that a normal hearing human being can hear and understand one person talking in an environment where there are many other people talking just as loudly be it a restaurant, conference, county fair, etc? How is it that you can hear and understand one particular person over another, even if they are both talking equally loud? Researchers are just beginning to understand how a human does it... Before explaining, lets use an analogy. In the past, I used the a…

3/06/2013 0

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How Much Tongue Can Be Removed Without Affecting Function?

Unfortunately, whether through trauma or cancer concerns, parts of the tongue may be removed. When a part of the tongue is removed, the principal concern patients have is whether speech and swallow will be affected. The answer to this question depends on 3 main factors. • What orientation is the tongue removed? • How much is removed? • Will nerve function be preserved? The nerve is what makes the tongue move (specifically cranial nerve 12  called the hypoglossal nerve) Regar…

2/20/2013 0

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What to Do and Care After Vocal Cord Surgery

When surgery is performed on the vocal cords, there are some very specific after-care that is required to allow for optimal healing. In order to understand the "why" such post-operative care is required, one must first understand how the vocal cords normally work. If you already know, just skip down to the bottom. The vocal cords are arranged in the shape of a "V". When breathing, the vocal cords are open to allow air to pass through and down into the windpipe. When talki…

2/17/2013 54

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Speech Impediment to Great Singing on American Idol

During January 2013 auditions of Season 12 of American Idol, there was Lazaro Arbos who has a terrible stutter when he talks, but sings beautifully. A week later, we encountered Micah Johnson  who also suffers from a speech impediment, but rather than a stutter, it was due to "nerve damage" sustained during a tonsillectomy . (Watch videos below) With stuttering, the problem mainly lies at the brain level. The brain coordinates how a person uses all of their throat muscles to crea…

2/01/2013 3

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Julie Andrews and Her "Botched Throat Surgery"

It has already been well-publicized that the former singing sensation Julie Andrews underwent some type of throat surgery in 1997 after which she never regained her phenomenal 4-octave voice thus relegating her to more conventional roles of being an actress without the singing. This "botched throat surgery" per Julie Andrews lead to a lawsuit that was ultimately settled . It is unknown precisely what type of (presumed) vocal cord pathology was present as well as what type of su…

12/13/2012 1

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