Conservative treatment vs. phonosurgery

In Phoniatric Dpt. everyday practice we try to keep specific multidisciplinary approach to the communication disorders, that includes an expert team using modern technology. Over the last six years we have treated 110 singers (3% of all new cases) and the results of their diagnostic and therapeutic management are presented here. There were 67 women and 43 men, 41 were smokers and 69 nonsmokers. The singing genres included 24 pop, 41 folk, 8 ethnic, 29 choral and 8 opera singers. The therapy success was compared with the demographic parameters, level of education and music genres across the subjects. A precise history, clinical examination, endovideolaryngostroboscopy and multidimensional computer analysis of voice and speech was carried out by two phoniatricians, two logopeds, two nurses and one clinical psychologist. Additional consultations were carried out by audiologists, allergists, endocrinologists, chest physicians, gastroenterologists and neurologists where necessary. We suggest that the gold standard is conservative therapy, with phonosurgery if conservative measures fail. We also suggest that an annual systematic examination is optimal in preventing disease in professional singers.