Subsequent clinic management
Specialist upper airway speech and language therapy (SLT) assessment one week after injury revealed turbulence on inspiration, a weak, breathy voice and swallowing impairment. Initial therapy focused on voice conservation and postural adjustments to avoid further strain and facilitate healing, use of core breathing patterns combined with exercises to encourage vocal fold abduction.
Over eight therapy sessions, the intensity of laryngeal abduction and forward resonance exercises was increased with improvements to both voice and respiratory function. Biofeedback laryngoscopy was used to improve laryngeal control for breathing.