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Posted in Uncategorized | June 2, 2025
Do you have a persistent cough or trouble swallowing? Is your voice breathy, weak, or hoarse?
You may need a laryngoscopy. A laryngoscopy procedure lets your ENT specialist look at the back of your throat to determine the underlying cause of your symptoms.
Keep reading to learn more about what laryngoscopy can help diagnose.
Laryngoscopy is a visual test done to examine your larynx, including vocal cords, and nearby structures such as your throat. The larynx, or voice box, is found in your throat and contains vocal cords.
Vocal cords are two bands of muscle tissue. They make sound by vibrating as air flows through them, producing the sound of your voice.
Laryngoscopy uses a small handheld tool known as a laryngoscope to examine your throat and determine the root cause of your symptoms. The procedure can be performed in the office or the operating room.
There are different types of laryngoscopies, and they are performed as follows:
As the name suggests, direct laryngoscopy allows your ENT specialist to look directly into your larynx. The procedure is done under general anesthesia, meaning you’ll be asleep.
During direct laryngoscopy, your ENT specialist will use a laryngoscope to hold your tongue out of the way and lift the epiglottis. The epiglottis is the leaf-like cartilage above your larynx that covers your windpipe whenever you swallow.
This prevents liquid and food from entering your respiratory system. Next, your ENT specialist may use a telescope to get a magnified view of the tissues in your voice box or throat.
They might also take tissue samples for a biopsy or remove any growth or foreign objects.
For this procedure, your ENT specialist will use a light and small mirror with a long handle to look into your throat. You’ll sit upright in a chair during the exam.
Your ENT specialist may spray a local anesthetic to numb your throat. They’ll then place the mirror at the back of your throat and shine the light into your mouth to view the images in the mirror.
Fiber optic laryngoscopy, also called flexible laryngoscopy, is a minimally invasive procedure used to visualize your larynx and surrounding structures. It utilizes a flexible cable equipped with a telescope at the end, enabling your ENT specialist to see detailed images on a monitor.
Your ENT specialist may spray numbing medicine in your nose during the procedure. They’ll then insert the cable into your mouth or nose and guide it into the larynx.
Your ENT specialist may recommend laryngoscopy if they suspect you have any of the following:
The most common symptom of laryngitis is hoarseness. Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx.
With laryngitis, your vocal cords become inflamed and swollen, keeping them from vibrating normally. This can cause hoarseness or a muffled voice.
Your voice can sound scratchy, rough, or raspy, or you might lose your voice altogether. In addition to hoarseness, you may also have a cough and sore throat.
If your hoarseness has lasted longer than two weeks, see your ENT specialist. They may suggest laryngoscopy to determine the cause.
Laryngoscopy can diagnose laryngitis and rule out benign growths or vocal cord tumors.
When stomach acid backs up into your esophagus or the tube connecting your mouth and stomach, it’s known as acid reflux. Acid reflux that happens from time to time is not unusual.
However, if you often have reflux, it can damage your tissues and affect your quality of life. LPR, or laryngopharyngeal reflux, is a type of acid reflux where your stomach contents, including acid, rise from the stomach into your esophagus and enter your throat.
If you’re struggling with chronic acid reflux, an ENT specialist can help. They may use flexible laryngoscopy to look for signs of damage or inflammation and diagnose LPR.
Vocal cord lesions are growths on your vocal cords. They can cause voice box problems, including altering your voice and making it difficult or painful to talk or sing.
Your ENT specialist may perform laryngoscopy to determine if you have vocal cord lesions. Benign vocal cord lesions include:
Vocal cord nodules typically form at the midpoint of your vocal cords. They can develop if you repeatedly overuse or misuse your voice.
These soft, fluid-filled growths usually affect one side. Polyps can develop after constantly misusing or using your voice excessively.
These are growths with a semi-solid or fluid-filled center surrounded by a sac.
Epiglottitis is the swelling and inflammation of the epiglottis. The swelling can obstruct your windpipe even when you’re not swallowing, causing breathing difficulties.
Epiglottitis is a life-threatening medical emergency. If you abruptly have trouble breathing and swallowing, go to your ENT specialist or the nearest hospital, or call 911 immediately.
Try to remain upright until you get help. It may be easier to breathe in that position.
Diagnosis needs direct examination, which can be done with fiberoptic laryngoscopy.
Laryngeal cancer is cancer of the larynx or voice box. It’s often diagnosed with direct laryngoscopy.
At Specialty Care ENT, our ENT specialists use laryngoscopy to get to the bottom of your symptoms and determine the most effective treatment to bring long-term relief and prevent complications. Do you have issues affecting your voice or throat?
Schedule your appointment at Specialty Care ENT in Barrington, Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates, and Elgin, IL, today to find out if you need laryngoscopy.
