ENT Insights and Blogs

A while ago I was invited onto OneFM's Nights with Simon Lim to talk about voice deepening surgery — a procedure that most people, including many in the medical community, don't know exists. Listen to the OneFM interview: Nights with Simon Lim — Voice Deepening Surgery featuring Dr Vyas Prasad

Swallowing disorders (dysphagia) occur when the coordinated muscle and nerve action required for swallowing breaks down. In Singapore, common causes include laryngopharyngeal reflux, cricopharyngeal dysfunction, Zenker's diverticulum, neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease or stroke, and head and neck cancer. Treatment depends on the cause and may include botulinum toxin injection, endoscopic dilation, laser or stapling surgery, or swallowing rehabilitation.

Globus is the sensation of a lump or tightness in the throat with no actual obstruction Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is a common cause — and many patients have no heartburn at all This post explains why throat symptoms can occur without classic reflux signs Diagnosis and management options are outlined Laryngopharyngeal reflux causes inflammation of the throat and voice box, producing the characteristic sensation of a lump or tightness — even in patients who have no heartbu

Acid reflux is widely associated with heartburn — a burning sensation in the chest that most people recognise immediately. But a significant number of patients experience reflux in a completely different way: with symptoms in the throat, not the chest. No heartburn. No obvious gastric complaint. Just a persistent throat problem that doesn't seem to go away.

Voice deepening surgery — Type 3 thyroplasty — lowers the fundamental frequency of the voice by shortening and relaxing the vocal cords through a small external neck incision under local anaesthetic, allowing the patient to provide feedback throughout the procedure. It is an established and effective option for transgender men and others seeking permanent voice masculinisation when voice therapy alone has not achieved the desired result.

Laryngopharyngeal reflux — where stomach contents reach the throat and voice box — frequently occurs without heartburn, which is why it is so often missed or misdiagnosed. The characteristic symptoms are throat clearing, chronic cough, globus sensation, and hoarseness rather than the burning chest discomfort of typical gastro-oesophageal reflux, and treatment requires both dietary modification and acid suppression over a sustained period.

Neurolaryngology is the subspecialty concerned with voice and swallowing disorders caused by neurological conditions — including vocal cord paralysis, spasmodic dysphonia, vocal tremor, and voice changes associated with Parkinson's disease or stroke. Accurate diagnosis requires direct visualisation of the vocal cords alongside a detailed assessment of the underlying neurological condition, and treatment is highly individualised.

Feeding difficulties in newborns and infants are one of the most stressful experiences for new parents — and one of the most common reasons for early paediatric ENT referral. Tongue tie is the most widely discussed cause, but it is far from the only one. Laryngomalacia, gastro-oesophageal reflux, and airway conditions all require assessment by a specialist with experience in paediatric swallowing and airway conditions before a treatment decision is mad