Here are some suggestions for making the most of your voice appointment.  

Here are some suggestions for making the most of your voice appointment.

We have some standard questions relevant to this topic.  Since symptoms, medications, and treatments change with time, an up-to-date version of this information will be useful to your physician.  

Key information your doctor will want to know include: 

When did the voice problem begin?
How frequently does the voice problem occur?
Do you have a normal voice sometimes?
How long does the voice problem episode last?
What triggers the voice problem?
What makes the voice better?
Do you clear your throat often?
Over time, is your voice problem:

Getting worse / Fluctuating (sometimes better/sometimes worse) / Getting better

How would you describe the voice quality? 

Wet / Husky / Strained / Quiet / Breathy / Absent / Other:

Do you depend on your voice in your job?

Describe your vocal requirements at work:

Additionally, the survey questionnaire “Voice Handicap Inventory-10” (VHI-10) gives an objective measure of how your voice is bothering you at a given time.

Since symptoms, medications, and treatments change with time, an up-to-date version of this information will be useful to your physician.  In particular, the survey questionnaire “Voice Handicap Inventory-10” (VHI-10) gives an objective measure of how your voice is bothering you at a given time.

Please fill out and bring with you:

• VHI-10 form

Bring with you any potentially relevant healthcare information.  If you have seen anyone else for this or a related condition, the reports and images from prior work may well not be readily available to Dr. Lansford during your visit, unless they are from Christie Clinic, Bromenn, or OSF.

Unless they are coming from Christie Clinic, Bromenn, or the OSF system, please hand-carry to your appointment the following items:

• Any prior operative or clinic notes relevant to this condition.  You can get these from the medical records department of the hospital or clinic where you were seen previously.

Bring a list of your current medications (prescription and non-prescription) and their doses.  If it is easier, you could bring in your current medications.

Bring your photo I.D., your medical insurance card and be prepared for your copay.

Also, in case you have to wait, it is a good idea to bring with you something to do, such as your phone or a book.  Bring a notepad and paper if you might wish to take notes.  Bring a family member or friend if you wish to have another “set of ears."