Phoniatrics

Phoniatrics is the medical specialty that deals with the study, diagnosis and treatment of human communication disorders in all their multiple forms: voice (dysphonia), speech (articulation, fluency as in stuttering), oral and written language (language delays, specific learning disorders – SLD, aphasia), hearing (in relation to language development) and swallowing (dysphagia). The phoniatric pathway is aimed at patients of all ages. In childhood, we intervene on language delays, articulation disorders, SLD (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia), stuttering and childhood deafness, to promote harmonious development of communication skills and prevent school and social difficulties. In adults, we treat voice problems (organic or functional dysphonia) related to professional causes (teachers, singers, actors), vocal cord pathologies (nodules, polyps, paralysis) or outcomes of neck surgery. We also manage complex language disorders (aphasia) and swallowing disorders (dysphagia) that may result from neurological pathologies such as stroke, head trauma or neurodegenerative diseases. The phoniatrician specialist, after careful clinical and instrumental evaluation (such as laryngoscopy), develops a personalized rehabilitation plan, working in close collaboration with the speech therapist.