Dr. Bastian makes extensive use of elicitation with his own voice in order to hear the “vocal phenomenology” of a voice under evaluation. He has named one phenomenon he has not heard described elsewhere as mucosal chatter. This post describes mucosal chatter and provides a video that demonstrates it in an injured voice.

Before considering anything else (like vocal cord implants), first adopt a DIY voice building strategy as described here by Dr. Bastian. This can be done at home in just minutes per day!

New noburp video on YouTube! https://youtu.be/-ryeCv0_qi8

Unable to burp your entire life? Embarrassed by audible croaking and gurgling noises? Plagued by abdominal bloating/distention and chest or low neck pressure? Distressed by excessive flatulence? Are you even laughed at by others you tell about your inability to burp? You may have a condition called “noburp” on social media. Described recently in the medical literature by Dr. Robert W Bastian and colleagues, the official name for the disorder is R-CPD (retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction), which can cause daily misery. Dr. Bastian takes you through a detailed description of the symptoms that comprise the syndrome of R-CPD, for which there is a solution…

Still coughing after COVID?

Especially early on after contracting the virus, coughing may serve to clear secretions from resolving lung inflammation. While such a cough may help lungs return to health, eventually, it can start to annoy or even severely affect quality of life. The diagnosis can be sensory neuropathic cough and can be caused by “damaged,” or “sensitized” sensory nerve endings in the trachea, larynx, or throat. These “wild” nerve endings go “ZING!!” and demand that you cough. For more, see https://laryngopedia.com/covid-19-coughing/

In a recently published photo study on Laryngopedia, Dr. Bastian takes a look at a mycobacterium abscessus infection of the larynx. Symptoms can include trouble breathing or a harsh voice. CLICK HERE to learn more.

Are you experiencing shortness of breath that your doctors can’t explain? You may have the Gasping Syndrome! Go to laryngopedia.com/the-gasping-syndrome and read Dr. Bastian’s newly published article on this unusual disorder.

In August one of our staff members, Sandy Meloy, celebrated 10 years with Bastian Voice Institute!  Sandy joins our other staff member, Tiffany Schroeder, in this great achievement.  Sandy started part-time working on insurance approvals and eventually became a full-time member of our team working both the Front Desk and in our back offices.  We are so glad she is a part of BVI; here’s to another 10 years!

RRP is a devastating chronic infection of the larynx and sometimes trachea caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV).  Until recently,  RRP was thought to “always” be caused by “low risk” subtypes 6 and 11.  More than 25 years ago, Dr. Bastian disputed this truism, and he and Dr. Richardson have been routinely HPV-subtyping each new patient.  They learned that other subtypes could cause the same clinical scenario as types 6 and 11.  And it appeared that persons with low-risk subtypes could be followed on an “as needed” basis according to voice needs, while higher-risk subtype patients should be followed on a strict schedule.  Recently, their new colleague, Dr. Rebecca Hoesli, with logistical help from physician assistant Melissa Wingo, created a study from their large database of subtypes.  One result is to formally dispel the common notion that RRP is “always” caused by HPV subtypes 6 or 11.  (They found 11 different subtypes.)  Another is to propose to colleagues who manage this disease that knowledge of specific HPV subtypes can inform clinical management of this disease.   To read the entire article, See also https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0194599820931817