Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (also called FEES) is a procedure that helps your doctor assess how well you swallow. Fiberoptic endoscopic swallow evaluation is typically done if you're experiencing coughing while eating, a sensation of food getting stuck, unexplained voice changes, or if you're at risk of aspiration (food or liquid going into your airway). During this test, a thin, flexible camera is passed through your nose to look at your throat and vocal cords while you swallow different types of food and liquids. The entire exam is recorded and reviewed in detail.

This procedure is done right in the office and takes about 15–20 minutes. A numbing spray may be used in the nose to reduce discomfort, but most people tolerate the test very well. You'll be seated upright and asked to swallow liquids, puree, and solid foods dyed with food coloring so the swallowing process can be clearly visualized. You can speak and breathe normally during the test. No recovery time is needed — you can return to normal activities immediately. Occasionally, patients may feel mild nasal irritation or sneeze briefly afterward. It is a very safe, low-risk procedure and an excellent tool for diagnosing swallowing issues and guiding therapy.

Fiberoptic tracheobronchoscopy is a procedure that allows the doctor to look directly at your windpipe (trachea) and the breathing tubes of your lungs (bronchi). It diagnoses airway conditions like narrowing, inflammation, scarring, tumors, or foreign bodies. This procedure is particularly helpful for patients with chronic cough, noisy breathing, difficulty breathing, or a history of airway trauma.

In the office, a thin, flexible scope with a light and camera is gently inserted through the nose and passed down the throat into the windpipe. The procedure usually takes less than 15 minutes. Numbing medication is applied to minimize discomfort, and while it can feel strange, most patients tolerate it very well. You may cough briefly during the exam, but it's not painful. There is no need for sedation; you can leave shortly after the exam. Some people experience a mild sore throat or hoarseness for a few hours. This is a very safe procedure with minimal risks. It provides crucial real-time information about your airway and is often the first step toward treatment planning or monitoring airway conditions over time.

Videostroboscopy is a specialized imaging test that closely examines how your vocal folds (vocal cords) move during speech. If you're experiencing hoarseness, vocal fatigue, loss of range (especially in singers), or a voice that just "doesn't sound right," this is a key diagnostic tool. It uses a camera and strobe light to create a slow-motion view of your vocal fold vibrations, helping your doctor identify even subtle problems like nodules, polyps, stiffness, or scarring.

The procedure takes about 10–15 minutes in the office. A small scope is passed through your mouth or nose while you make various vocal sounds. It is not painful, though the nose may be numbed with spray to improve comfort. You'll be asked to say "eeee,” glide your pitch, or speak briefly while the vocal folds are recorded. You can return to speaking and normal activity immediately after. There is no downtime or recovery. The results help guide voice therapy, surgical decisions, or ongoing care. Videostroboscopy is highly effective and safe, and in many cases, only one session is needed for diagnosis — though it may be repeated over time to monitor progress.

High-speed imaging of the vocal folds is a cutting-edge tool that captures the vibration of the vocal cords in extreme detail—up to thousands of frames per second. It's especially useful when standard video stroboscopy doesn't provide enough information, such as in cases with irregular or asymmetrical vibration, vocal tremor, or subtle scarring that may not be seen with slower imaging methods. This test is ideal for singers, performers, or anyone with complex or persistent voice problems.

The procedure is done in the office and usually takes about 10–20 minutes. A small endoscope is placed through the mouth or nose while you perform specific vocal tasks. It is not painful, but you might feel a bit of pressure or discomfort, especially if done through the nose — numbing spray helps reduce this. The actual imaging part is quick and safe, with no sedation needed and no recovery time. You can speak normally afterward. The high-resolution video gives your doctor valuable insight into the precise mechanics of your voice and helps shape a personalized treatment plan. This test carries minimal risk and often complements other voice evaluations like stroboscopy or acoustic analysis.

Laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) is a diagnostic test that evaluates the nerve and muscle function of the voice box. LEMG is used when there's concern about vocal fold paralysis, weakness, or abnormal movement. By placing small needles into the larynx muscles, the doctor can measure how well the nerves are firing and whether the vocal folds receive the proper signals. LEMG helps diagnose conditions like vocal fold paresis, nerve injury, or movement disorders such as spasmodic dysphonia.

The procedure takes about 30 minutes and is performed in the office. A topical anesthetic is used on the skin, and fine needles (similar to acupuncture needles) are inserted into the neck to reach the laryngeal muscles. You'll be asked to make vocal sounds during the test. While the sensation can be uncomfortable, most patients tolerate it well. There may be mild soreness or bruising in the neck afterward, but no significant recovery time is needed. Results can help guide surgical or voice therapy planning. LEMG is safe and effective when performed by experienced specialists.

This noninvasive, in-office test measures various characteristics of your voice using specialized microphones and software. It analyzes pitch, volume, vocal range, steadiness, and other parameters to give a detailed profile of how your voice is functioning. It helps track vocal improvement over time, diagnose disorders like hoarseness or vocal fatigue, or evaluate professional voice users such as singers, teachers, or public speakers.

The test takes about 10–15 minutes and is completely painless. You'll speak, sing, or sustain certain sounds into a microphone while the software records and analyzes your voice. There's no anesthesia, scope, or discomfort involved. It's often done in combination with a physical exam or stroboscopy. You can speak and return to normal life right away. Results help guide voice therapy, surgical decisions, or rehabilitation for those recovering from voice disorders. It's also an excellent way to document progress during treatment. No risks are associated with this test, and it can be repeated.   

Aerodynamic evaluation is a noninvasive test that measures how air flows through your voice box during speaking and breathing. It gives your doctor important information about how efficiently your lungs, vocal cords, and mouth work together to produce sound. It's often used to assess voice disorders, breathiness, vocal fatigue, or coordination issues in singers and professional voice users.

This test is quick — typically 10–15 minutes — and done entirely in the office. You’ll wear a small mask over your mouth and nose while performing simple vocal tasks such as sustained vowels or speaking into a microphone. The equipment measures airflow, pressure, and volume. There's no discomfort, no anesthesia, and no recovery time. You can speak and eat usually afterward. The safe test may be repeated periodically to track progress in therapy or recovery from a condition. The results help determine whether your voice issue stems from airflow problems, vocal fold weakness, or inefficient voice use, guiding personalized treatment.

A brush biopsy is a simple, minimally invasive way to collect surface cells from suspicious areas in the larynx (voice box) or pharynx (throat). It's often done when a small lesion or irregular tissue is seen during an endoscopy. Instead of removing tissue with forceps, a tiny brush is used to scrape the surface cells gently. The cells are then analyzed for abnormalities, including precancerous or cancerous changes.

The procedure is done in the office using a flexible scope and typically takes under 10 minutes. The throat is numbed with spray, and the brush is passed through the scope to collect a sample. Patients may feel a brief tickle or urge to cough, but the procedure is generally well tolerated. There's no need for sedation or downtime afterward — you can speak, eat, and return to daily activities immediately. It's a safe, low-risk way to screen suspicious lesions, especially for patients not yet ready for a surgical biopsy. While not a replacement for a full tissue sample if needed, brush biopsies offer a quick and effective first look at potential problems.

An office biopsy involves taking a small tissue sample from a visible lesion or abnormal area in the larynx or pharynx using a flexible scope and biopsy forceps. This procedure is typically done to rule out or confirm cancer, chronic inflammation, or infections in patients with hoarseness, pain, or visible growths. Unlike surgical biopsies done in the operating room, this procedure can be performed right in the office without general anesthesia.

The throat is numbed with spray, and a flexible endoscope is used to visualize the area. A small biopsy tool is passed to gently remove a tiny piece of tissue through a working channel in the scope. The procedure usually takes 10–15 minutes. Some patients feel slight pressure or irritation, and there may be a brief sore throat or a tiny amount of bleeding afterward, but most people tolerate it well. You can speak and eat usually shortly after the procedure. Biopsy results typically return within a week and guide the next steps. Office biopsy is safe and efficient and often avoids needing a trip to the OR — though some findings may still require follow-up surgery depending on results.