Paperwork

• You will be asked to fill out forms and questionnaires with each visit to help track your progress.
• These can be downloaded and filled out ahead of time, or you can arrive early for your appointment to fill out this paperwork. (link to all intake forms)

Exam

• You will undergo a comprehensive head and neck exam. Depending on your history and general exam, further examination of the larynx (voice box) may then follow.
• To better evaluate the cause of the voice, swallowing or airway disorders, Dr. Bergeron will most likely want to look closely at the inside of your throat and larynx with laryngoscopy. This may be done with a rigid laryngoscope through the mouth or with a flexible laryngoscope through the nose.  With this examination the laryngologist can see lesions in the throat or larynx, evaluate the movement of the vocal folds, and evaluate the vibrations of the vocal folds with a strobe light.
• If you are going to have flexible laryngoscopy, you will be given local anesthetic spray to the nose before the procedure to make the exam more comfortable.
• Bergeron may also want to perform a Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) to better evaluate your swallowing depending on your symptoms. During this exam, the larynx is visualized with the flexible laryngoscope while you swallow foods and liquids of different consistencies.
• The entire scope exam takes only a few minutes, but provides a great deal of information. The examination is recorded and is then played back and discussed with the patient.

Additional studies may be ordered if appropriate

• Modified Barium Swallow Study
• Esophagram
• Chest X-ray
• CT or MRI of neck and or chest
• Laboratory studies
• Referrals to other specialists when appropriate