Ms. Benninger et al., EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF THE UNILATERAL PARALYZED VOCAL FOLD, Otolaryngology and head and neck surgery, 111(4), 1994, pp. 497-508
The evaluation and treatment of patients with unilateral vocal ford pa
ralysis have evolved as improvements in objective measurements of phon
atory function and new modalities for treatment have developed. A thor
ough history, physical examination, subjective voice evaluation, objec
tive voice analysis, and electromyography are used to make a diagnosis
, determine the cause, and plan treatment. The goal of treatment of th
e patient with a unilateral vocal fold paralysis is to restore normal
phonatory function without aspiration. Multiple modalities have develo
ped to allow for restoration of nearly normal phonatory function, and
these include voice therapy alone or in combination with injection med
ialization, laryngoplastic phonosurgery, or laryngeal reinnervation. O
tolaryngologists should be familiar with the incidence, cause, evaluat
ion, and state-of-the-art treatment of unilateral vocal fold paralysis
to optimize patient care and avoid suboptimal results often seen with
antiquated or inappropriate treatment.