Medical Services related to Robert James Morrison MD

Dysphagia (Ear, Nose & Throat)

Dysphagia is the medical term for difficulty swallowing. Dysphasia is usually a sign that there is a problem with your esophagus, the muscular tube that moves food and liquids from the back of your mouth to your stomach. If dysphagia is severe, you may not be able to take in enough fluids and calories to stay healthy. In severe cases, even saliva is difficult to swallow. Complications may include aspiration pneumonia (when food or liquids are pulled into your lungs), malnutrition, dehydration, weight loss and airway blockage.

Anyone can have dysphagia, but it is more common in older adults, babies and people who have brain or nervous system conditions.

Ear, Nose and Throat (Otolaryngology)

At the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Michigan Health System, we are on the cutting-edge of diagnosing, treating and rehabilitating patients with diseases of the head and neck, also coordinating with our Comprehensive Cancer Center to expertly treat head and neck cancers.

Functional Dysphonia

Functional dysphonia is poor voice quality without any obvious anatomical, neurological or other organic difficulties affecting the larynx or voice box. It is also referred to as functional voice difficulty.

Laryngopharyngeal Reflux

n adults and children, irritating acidic juices may back up from the stomach into the esophagus (swallowing passage) and throat. This is frequently called gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. This condition may occur at any time, but it happens more often when you are laying down. A common anatomic condition known as a hiatal hernia predisposes people to acid reflux. The most commonly recognized symptom of acid reflux is “heartburn" due to irritation of the lining of the esophagus.

Muscle Tension Dysphonia

Muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) is one of the most common voice disorders. It occurs when the muscles around the larynx (voice box) are so tight during speaking that the voice box does not work efficiently.

Respiratory Papilloma

A respiratory papilloma (pap-pill-LO-ma) is a wart-like growth or tumor on the surface of the larynx (voice box). Respiratory papillomas are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). They’re usually benign (non-cancerous). These growths can lead to vocal cord damage and airway problems.

Spasmodic Dysphonia

Spasmodic dysphonia (SD) is a neurological voice disorder that affects the voice muscles in the larynx, or voice box, causing it to “spasm.” These spasms cause the voice to be interrupted and affect voice quality.

Vocal Fold Lesions, Nodules, Cysts and Polyps

Vocal fold lesions are one of the most common causes of voice problems. A lesion is an area that is broken or infected. There are three types of vocal fold lesions: nodules, polyps and cysts.

Vocal Fold Paralysis

Your vocal folds — also called vocal cords — are two flexible bands of muscle tissue that sit at the entrance to the windpipe (trachea). Vocal fold paralysis is when one or both of the vocal folds in a person’s body stop working. One or both vocal folds can be paralyzed. When one vocal fold is paralyzed (unilateral vocal cord paralysis), voice and sometimes swallowing are impaired. When both vocal folds are paralyzed (bilateral vocal cord paralysis), the airway and breathing are severely compromised. Vocal fold paralysis is also referred to as vocal cord paresis (pear-ree-sis).

Vocal Health Center

At the University of Michigan Vocal Health Center, we’ve been helping people just like you since 1996. Today, we are recognized locally, regionally and nationally as a top center for vocal health. We are experts in diagnosing and treating all types of voice conditions, and we believe in educating our patients so they can maintain good vocal health.

Voice and Swallowing Disorders

The Voice Disorders Program comprehensively evaluates and treats all voice and swallowing disorders using the latest surgical and non-surgical methods.