Phoniatry

Phoniatry Center

Our Phoniatry Center in the north of Rome, is a premier center of excellence dedicated to the health, education, and enhancement of the human voice—recognized as a fundamental tool for communication, personal identity, and professional performance.

The center offers customized individual or group speech therapy programs for the speaking, acting, and singing voice, specifically tailored for voice professionals (singers, actors, voiceover artists, TV and radio presenters, and journalists). Specialized pathways include diction, vocal performance, acting, public speaking, and the advanced “Psycho-Diction” vocal technique.

Regenerative Surgery: Autologous Adipose-Derived Stem Cell “Lipofilling”

Clinical Indications:

• Vocal Cord Paralysis: Caused by iatrogenic factors (thyroid, neck, thoracic, esophageal, tracheal, or mediastinal surgery; prolonged or traumatic intubation), neoplastic conditions (thyroid, laryngeal, lung, or esophageal tumors; metastases infiltrating the recurrent laryngeal nerve), neurological disorders (stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, brainstem lesions, vagus nerve pathologies), inflammatory conditions (viral infections or neuritis), or traumatic events (cervical, laryngotracheal, or thoracic trauma).

• Glottic Insufficiency (Glottic Gap): Resulting from laryngeal scarring, surgical/traumatic sequelae, neuromuscular diseases, or adduction deficits (hypokinetic dysphonia).

• Presbyphonia: Age-related changes and aging of the voice.

• Velopharyngeal Insufficiency (VPI).

• Tongue Paralysis.

• Skin Scar Retraction & Neck Edema: Post-surgical and post-radiotherapy sequelae.

• Salivary Fistulas: Both internal and external.

• Frey’s Syndrome: (Auriculotemporal Syndrome).

• Chronic Atrophic Rhinitis: Idiopathic or secondary to turbinate surgery.

• Sjogren’s Syndrome: (Experimental protocols).

Botulinum Toxin “Botox” Therapy

Clinical Indications:

• Laryngeal Dystonia: Adductor and abductor spasmodic dysphonia.

• Oropharyngeal Dystonia: Palatal hypertonia, palatal myoclonus.

• Oromandibular Dystonia: With or without lingual involvement.

• Cervical Dystonia: Abnormal head/neck positioning, including anterocollis (forward flexion), retrocollis (backward extension), and torticollis (rotation).

• Cricopharyngeal Dystonia: Hypertonia of the cricopharyngeal muscle (e.g., associated with Parkinson’s disease).

• Sialorrhea: Excessive salivation and drooling (associated with dysphagia, Parkinson’s disease, or ALS).

• Salivary Fistulas: Post-surgical external (cutaneous) or internal (mucosal) fistulas.

• Frey’s Syndrome (Auriculotemporal Syndrome): Characterized by localized sweating and flushing in the temporoparotid region during mastication or gustatory stimulation, following parotid surgery or trauma.

• Facial Nerve Paralysis: Management of spasms and synkinesis.

Speech and Language Therapy Center

Head of Center: Dr. Serena Caleffi

A state-of-the-art Speech and Language Therapy Center featuring a specialized multidisciplinary team dedicated to the rehabilitation of:

• Voice Disorders: (Dysphonia).

• Singing Voice Disorders: (Dysodia).

• Articulatory Disorders: (Dyslalia and dysarthria).

• Swallowing Disorders: (Dysphagia and atypical pediatric swallowing).

• Fluency Disorders: (Developmental and atypical stuttering, neurogenic stuttering, psychogenic stuttering, and tachylalia/cluttering).

• Specific Language Impairments (SLI) & Specific Learning Disorders (SLD): Including dysorthographia, dyslexia, and dyscalculia.

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

• Cognitive Decline & Disorders in Geriatric Patients.