Phoniatrics Unit

• Daily voice disorders clinic: including the assessment of voice and laryngeal disorders. The assessment is done by the phoniatricians using auditory perceptual assessment of voice, rigid indirect laryngoscopic assessment of larynx with stroboscopic light, flexible nasopharyngoscopes, multi-dimensional voice profile, and visipitch. According to the diagnoses, referrals are done to ORL clinic for surgical intervention, or rehabilitation can be done at the unit using a variety of voice therapy techniques for both pediatrics and adults.
• Weekly dysphagia clinic: that is responsible for the assessment, diagnosis, and rehabilitation of swallowing disorders. The assessment is done clinically, by flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) and the complementary videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS). Swallowing rehabilitation sessions are done daily for both adult and pediatric patients using swallowing maneuvers and instrumental rehabilitation of oro-pharyngeal phases of swallowing. The unit participates in the weekly laryngology meeting, the ORL conferences and the ECPP pediatric conference.
• Speech disorders clinic: including nasality and dysarthria assessment by clinical tests, flexible nasopharyngoscopic assessment of the velopharyngeal valve, nasometric assessment of speech and structured articulation tests.
• Language disorders clinic: that assesses language and developmental assessment of children and adults through structured validated tools besides the psychometric assessment. Accordingly, a rehabilitation plan is provided by the phoniatricians using evidence-based programs. The language clinic has a specific cochlear implant and hearing impairment clinic. Two types of family counseling meetings are done; the first is the weekly family counseling meeting and the second is the monthly cochlear implant and hearing-impaired family counseling. The unit also participates in the monthly conjoint meeting of phoniatrics, pediatric neurology and child psychiatry department with the effective active participation of the staff members.

The Alexandria University phoniatrics unit also participates in the teaching courses of ORL lectures and assignments besides its effective participation in the new curricula of communication skills teaching to the doctors and professionalism, which are longitudinal courses for first, second, third and fourth-year medical students. The phoniatrics unit has more to offer and is planning to expand with different specialized clinics and teaching activities aiming to provide the best possible service that both our patients and medical students deserve to have.