Post LTR Voice Quality

[Wooders80]

Dominic is scheduled for a single stage LTR later this summer. I was, until recently, as relaxed as I could be about it, having realised after nearly 4 years, it really is the best hope we now have in getting the trachy out. Anyway, I was reading the Great Ormond Street LTR guidance sheet (very useful by the way) and noted the following: "Many children experience a change in voice quality after LTR. Voice may be weker or quieter because vocal chords are widened." I just wondered if those of you on the boards whose children have had reconstructive surgery have noticed this. Is it a permanent or temporary thing? I'm going to discuss this with Dominic's doctors too, but wanted thoughts from those who have already gone down this road.

[saywhatyouwill]

in most of the stuff i've read voice quality is referred to as an issue. i think some of the articles had a breakdown of standards of voice quality after surgery. i think that the most common effect is to have a husky voice, and to not be able to talk loudly. i think that it's permanent.

it's something i have always been concerned about, but our dr told us in may that he expects emily's voice to be 100% normal after her LTR (this week). i just accepted that response which is very unlike me! (usually have 12million questions).

if they don't manage to avoid the vocal chords then obvioulsy that will make a difference to voice.

clare.

[suzanne2545]

Parker is 15 months post single stage LTP. He was 17 months old when he had it and basically non-verbal. His voice is much better than most that I've heard but he didn't have the same previous interventions than those kids.

His voice is a tiny bit hoarse and somewhat quiet. I really don't even notice it but people who don't know him know there is something hoarse about it.

[ptoezee]

My DD is 1 1/2 yrs past LTP and her voice has most definatly changed. She has always had a very quiet voice, but now it is more coarse sounding. I have been told to wait till after she goes through purbty and there *may* be a surgery to fix it..but we are leaving it all up to her. Right now, it is really a non issue. We do get comments from time to time about how hoarse she is...but maily from adults...like "honey have you been to a game and screaming alot" or "your awfully hoarse, you must have had a really good time" (referring to playing alot or something)
but her twin usually chimes in and correct them pretty quick....usually before Katie or myself can say anything..and that shuts them up! LOL

I do admit, I miss hearing her sweet little girlie voice!

[Wooders80]

Thanks everyone for sharing their thoughts/ experiences. The more I think about it, the more I think it must be very hard to ascertain whether voice problems are due to the LTR, or to previous airway interventions (scopes/ intubations etc.), given that many children pre-LTR have no or limited voice with the trachy.

Just hoping like you Clare that I get some reassurance from our surgeon too. Oh yes, and good luck!

[saywhatyouwill]

Originally Posted by Wooders80

Just hoping like you Clare that I get some reassurance from our surgeon too. Oh yes, and good luck!

thanks -you too!

[KJKK8437]

I totally agree with checking with your doc. I was specifically told that we were lucky because Alex's repair was a good distance from the vocal chords and thus, "We didn't need to worry about the issues that go with that." I don't know much more about it than that. I had enough to grapple with and was glad someone took something off my plate. Like Clare, I just accepted the answer.

True to the doc's prediction, we notice no voice issues. If anything, his voice improved from immediately prior to the surgery. Along your other line of thought, he had comparatively minimal interventions prior to the LTR as well. He was bronched 3 times and intubated once post-op after his first trach surgery failed, for a couple of days.

Hope you get good news.