<p>DD is scheduled to have surgery on a seriously deviated septum, sinuses that are so infected (chronically as well as currently) that they're almost totally opaque, and also for the removal of her tonsils, one of which is enlarged enough that 4 doctors who saw it all said, "ooo, that's a BIG tonsil." The surgical group she's using specializes in working with singers, so I'm sure she'll get proper care. She's scheduled to have a "vocal analysis" done the week before her surgery, so that they have baseline stats on her voice (whatever it is that they can actually measure) and know what it should sound like after vocal therapy post-surgery. Knowing that the ENT group is as specialized as they are, I understand that I should be confident that DD's voice will sound the same - if not better - post-surgery as it did pre-surgery, especially since she currently has NO resonance in her facial sinuses (for years she had no idea what her voice teachers meant when they asked her if she could "feel the resonance"). So why am I so worried? Has anyone else's singer had this kind of surgery, and if so, how did s/he do? DD is supposed to have her senior recital in May, and I'd hate for her to have to miss it due to unforeseen problems. I'm probably just borrowing trouble, but I'm much more nervous than I'm willing to let DD see. Does anyone have any comforting words or thoughts to share?</p>
<p>Hi there - </p>
<p>As you may know, I'm a grad student in Voice Therapy (so I am in the last phase of my training to become the type of person your D will work w/after her surgery) - and it sounds like this surgery WILL be a good thing for your D's resonance. But her voice WON'T sound the same - as your indicate, it SHOULD sound better - but of course there are risks w/any surgery. It's pretty unusual for someone who specializes in sinus surgery to also specialize in laryngology - treatment of vocal problems. Although I'm not doubting that your D's practice works with a lot of singers, I would make sure that HER doctor has done HER operation on PROFESSIONAL singers (people who make an actual living singing). The baseline measurements they will take shouldn't tell them what her voice SHOULD sound like after surgery - those measurements should improve. </p>
<p>They will likely measure her:
- speaking fundamental frequency (habitual pitch)
- maximum phonation range (her entire range of sound production, in Herz rather than musical note names)
- jitter and shimmer, technical terms that will show how much "noise" she has in her voice (everyone has some but an abnormal amount, indicated by anything above a certain number or percentage, indicates her vocal folds are not vibrating regularly)
- maybe sound pressure level (how loud her voice is)
- maybe a few measurements to show how efficiently she is using air</p>
<p>And of course they should do a videostroboscopy to look at her vocal folds and watch them function - make SURE they do this AND record it (on VHS or DVD) - b/c often singers try to "heal" too fast post-surgery by creating sound by tensing their throat muscles if their vocal folds are at all swollen. Having the baseline strobe recorded allows them to compare it to a post-surgery strobe to make sure your D hasn't developed any bad habits, esp. tension, as she has been healing. (Yes, therapy will certainly help with this!!!)</p>
<p>Make sure you are completely certain that her doctor is extremely knowledgable about the demands your daughter must be able to place on her voice (belting, legit training, etc.) and in what time frame - don't let him brush you off. If they work with singers, then singer terminology and needs should be very familiar to them. And, although if they work with singers this should be an non-issue, ask, "just to be safe," about whether they can intubate your daughter with the smallest possible air tube (in diameter) during surgery, as surgical patient's vocal folds can sometimes be nicked by intubation, which of course damages them. It's far better to be seen as an "overprotective mom" than to let your doctor talk around your biggest concerns. Again, you should be able to "feel" right away whether you doctor TRULY understands the needs your daughter has. </p>
<p>I may have said all of this for "nothing" if your doctor has already addressed all of the above issues - but maybe others here can learn, too. :) Good luck, and keep us posted - and pm me if you have any questions.</p>