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Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Physicians at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Voice Clinic have helped a patient regain his voice with a series of innovative treatments, as part of a multidisciplinary approach to tackle a significant healthcare challenge.
Engineer Hassan Ali Al Hammadi, a 41-year-old patient from Dubai, was diagnosed with a large polyp, or growth, in his right vocal fold. Vocal folds are sensitive tissues that vibrate in the airstream to create the voice. The polyp interfered with this process, altering his voice significantly. For Hassan, this unwanted change affected his quality of life and his ability to work.
Al Hammadi recalls, “My voice changed quite suddenly, and it was difficult to control. It sounded like I had a bad sore throat all the time. This interfered with my work, as I deliver speeches and make presentations as part of my job.”
The polyp was found during an endoscopic examination in the physician’s office and was then surgically removed at the hospital. Specialists at the clinic provided follow-up voice therapy sessions as part of the treatment plan.
The specialist operation was conducted with a delicate surgical technique using fine surgical instruments or a laser beam passing through a metal tube, called laryngoscope, which enables the surgeon to work under magnification with a microscope. This allowed for intensely precise surgery to avoid affecting the vocal folds and the patient’s voice permanently, a particularly important consideration for professionals whose voice is essential for their career.
Dr. Anastasios Hantzakos, Staff Physician, Otolaryngologist and Director of the Voice Clinic at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, commented: “We have developed a comprehensive approach to tackling voice disorders, which first removes the problem surgically, while providing follow-up with the surgeon and a specialized speech and language pathologist. This is essential for proper voice rehabilitation.”
World Voice Day on April 16 recognizes the importance of the human voice and works to increase awareness about voice therapy and specialist care as part of rehabilitation programs.
“Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi provided me with a thorough treatment plan, kept me informed throughout the treatment process and gave me the time and space to make a full recovery. All my questions were answered and the staff quickly built up my confidence. The post-surgery care continued with follow-up appointments and speech therapy. It’s remarkable that the government of the UAE provides us with such a high quality of healthcare and I am hugely grateful,” said Hassan.
Postoperative voice therapy sessions are designed to ensure optimal healing. They also help manage the vocal habits that can lead to the development of scar tissue or polyps reappearing.
Hassan explains the importance of the speech therapy session to his professional life. “Working with the speech therapist, Adamantia Prachali, changed my quality of life. I work for the UAE Military, have a very active sports life and, as a jet ski marshal, I give instructions through a megaphone during races, so I need a strong voice. The therapy not only helped my voice, it also changed my whole approach to life and I will be forever grateful,” he said.
Dr. Hantzakos commented: “The voice box is very sensitive, and people often ignore the detrimental effects of smoking, shouting, and poor speaking habits. They only seek help when their voice problem has become serious. Our Voice Clinic uses an advanced holistic approach to all voice-related problems, particularly for the professional voice user. Every patient is different, and our experts use the full range of state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment options to customize solutions for each patient.”
Patients who wish to book an appointment at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi can visit: https://www.clevelandclinicabudhabi.ae/en/patients-and-visitors/forms-and-documents/pages/request-an-appointment.aspx.
About Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, part of Mubadala’s network of world-class healthcare providers, is a multispecialty hospital on Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is a unique and unparalleled extension of US-based Cleveland Clinic’s model of care, specifically designed to address a range of complex and critical care requirements unique to the Abu Dhabi population.
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has the following Institutes: Heart & Vascular, Neurological, Digestive Disease, Eye, Respiratory, Critical Care, Surgical Subspecialties, Medical Subspecialties, Emergency Medicine, Anesthesiology, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Imaging, Quality & Patient Safety, and Clinical & Nursing. In all, more than 40 medical and surgical specialties are represented at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.
The facilities at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi combine state-of-the-art amenities and world-class service standards. The hospital is a 364 (expandable to 490) bed facility, with five clinical floors, three diagnostic and treatment levels, and 13 floors of critical and acute inpatient units. It is a physician-led medical facility served by North American/European Board Certified (or equivalent) physicians. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi provides patients in the region direct access to the world’s best healthcare providers and Cleveland Clinic’s unique model of care, reducing their need to travel abroad for treatment.
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi – Al Ain began offering select medical services in December 2017. The facility is located on the Tawam Hospital Campus in Al Ain.
Visit us at www.clevelandclinicabudhabi.ae.
Mubadala Investment Company
Mubadala is a pioneering global investor, deploying capital with integrity and ingenuity to accelerate economic growth for the long-term benefit of Abu Dhabi. As Abu Dhabi’s leading strategic investment company, Mubadala is active in 13 sectors and more than 30 countries around the world, creating lasting value for our shareholder, the Government of Abu Dhabi.
Our work includes the development of global industrial champions in sectors such as aerospace, ICT, semiconductors, metals & mining and renewable energy, utilities, and the management of diverse financial holdings. We build on legacy expertise in oil and gas to invest across the hydrocarbon spectrum, and enhance the UAE’s growth potential through investments in healthcare, real estate and defense services. Our investment approach prioritizes partnership with best-in-class organizations and a commitment to the highest standards of governance.
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