The American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) is observing the first "World Voice Day," an international celebration of the human voice. On April 16, 2003, the public is being asked to recognize that the human voice, a fragile communication instrument, can be easily and irretrievably damaged through harmful speaking techniques and alcohol and tobacco abuse. The consequence can be strained vocal cords, chronic hoarseness, or in some cases, deadly head and neck cancers.
It is highly appropriate that the Academy, representing 10,000 of the nation's ear, nose, and throat specialists, lead the American participation of this health education campaign. For more than a century, otolaryngologist--head and neck surgeons have pioneered new diagnostic and treatment procedures for the care and treatment of voice disorders.
Voice disorders can afflict not only the famous but also the neighbor. Many otolaryngologists have assisted well-known entertainers in maintaining their voice, all to the enjoyment of the American public. These medical specialists have also aided our nation's teachers, clergy, salespeople, and courtroom attorneys, all professionals requiring the ability to speak clearly in the performance of their job.
In its inaugural year of participating in World Voice Day, the Academy has set up a special Internet website, http://www.entnet.org/news/voiceday.cfm, which provides new information about the care and treatment for voice disorders. Four new patient information fact sheets are now available for viewing: "You and Your Voice," "Maintaining a Healthy Voice," "Laryngeal Cancer," and "Common Voice Disorders."
World Voice recognition originally started in Brazil, where ear, nose, and throat specialists established National Voice Week in April, 1999, in response to a report by the World Health Organization of the high larynx cancer rate in that nation. Now other nations and institutions have signed on to mark World Voice Day, including the European Laryngological Society http://www.md.ucl.ac.be/els/, American Broncho-Esophagological Association http://www.abea.net/index.html, and Turkish Professional Voice Association http://www.professional-voice.org/. As part of this patient education effort, the University of Michigan Health System and Comprehensive Cancer Center will offer free throat cancer screenings and smoking cessation counseling on April 12 http://www.cancer.med.umich.edu/learn/throat.htm
RSS