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Phoniatrist
Last reviewed: 03.07.2025
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A phoniatrist is a doctor who specializes in otolaryngology. His main activity is the diagnosis and treatment of diseases that are associated with problems of voice and hearing. Some specialists in this field also consider psycho-emotional disorders. The fact is that many patients are capable of falling into depression due to problems with hearing or voice. Therefore, this specialist can be called a professional in his field. He is able to understand many problems and successfully solve them. A phoniatrist is a specialist of a wide circle who solves all issues concerning the hearing and voice apparatus.
[ When should you see a phoniatrist?
There are a number of symptoms that require immediate consultation with a phoniatrist. First of all, it is pain when producing voice. Dry cough is also at risk, especially if it intensifies significantly after smoking. The situation is similar when it intensifies after talking. If a person feels pain when swallowing, it is time to consult a specialist. Even hoarseness of voice should prompt a person to seek help. A phoniatrist will determine why these symptoms arose and prescribe treatment.
What tests should you take when visiting a phoniatrist?
In order to prescribe high-quality and, most importantly, appropriate treatment, it is necessary to take some tests. As a rule, this is a general blood test. Only in this way can one determine whether a person has any problems and whether the prescribed treatment is suitable for him. It is impossible to determine the cause and begin to fight the disease based on symptoms alone. It is necessary to take all the tests and undergo diagnostics. Usually, only in this way can a phoniatrist prescribe high-quality treatment.
What diagnostic methods does a phoniatrist use?
Like any specialist, a phoniatrist uses certain diagnostic methods. As a rule, this is a microbiological examination and video laryngostroboscopy. Naturally, everything begins with a regular examination, but often it is difficult to diagnose anything based on its results. Therefore, in these cases, more accurate and serious methods are used. Based on the results of which, the doctor is able to understand not only the cause, but also find out why this happened, and prescribe high-quality treatment. The phoniatrist quickly identifies the disease itself and begins to effectively combat it.
What does a phoniatrist do?
A phoniatrist diagnoses and treats problems related to hearing and voice. His main specialization is based on identifying diseases of the throat, vocal cords and laryngitis. These are the problems that patients often seek help with.
In some cases, the specialist also considers the psycho-emotional state of the person. After all, those people for whom the voice is part of the profession are simply not able to cope with this problem on their own. Therefore, sometimes the doctor has to act as a psychologist, but only in rare cases. The phoniatrist specializes exclusively in the direction of human hearing and voice apparatus.
What diseases does a phoniatrist treat?
As a rule, this is everything that is related to the throat and vocal cords. So, patients often come with various problems that are related to the throat. Basically, these are people for whom the voice is part of the profession. Often you can meet those who are tormented by the vocal cords. Laryngitis is also common. Basically, it can take both acute and chronic forms. As for the organs that the doctor works with. These include the uvula, tonsils and epiglottis. In general, he can freely be called a generalist. After all, a phoniatrist is able to deal with many problems.
Advice from a phoniatrist
As soon as problems with the voice begin to appear, you should immediately seek help from a specialist. After all, not many people know that a slight wheezing is considered a pathology. Sometimes this indicates that a person has a tumor and requires surgical treatment. Often, voice problems occur in smokers. Therefore, you should reconsider your lifestyle and try to somehow correct the situation. After all, the problems can be quite serious. Especially if we are talking about laryngitis, it can acquire a chronic stage. It is advisable to monitor the condition of the throat and, if necessary, seek help. A phoniatrist is a broad-based specialist who can provide qualified assistance.