Voice care and lifestyle
Resting the voice, drinking enough water, stopping smoking and tobacco, and changes to diet and meal timing for reflux.
THROAT & VOICE · ISLAMABAD
Throat, voice & swallowing problemsassessment and treatment.
Dr M Riaz Khokhar assesses persistent sore throats, tonsil problems, hoarseness and swallowing difficulty, examines the throat and voice box with a camera in the clinic, and offers surgery when it is needed, at PNS Hafeez Hospital Islamabad.
Evening clinic, Monday to Friday, 5–7 pm. Your appointment time will be confirmed by the clinic.
WHEN TO COME
Reasons to have your throat or voice checked.
- A hoarse or changed voice lasting more than three weeks.
- Repeated tonsillitis or sore throats that keep coming back.
- Difficulty or pain on swallowing, or food sticking in the throat.
- A feeling of a lump in the throat, or constant throat clearing.
- A sore throat or mouth ulcer that has not healed after three weeks.
- Loud snoring with pauses in breathing during sleep.
Most throat and voice problems are caused by infection, acid reflux or voice strain and settle with simple treatment. Hoarseness that lasts more than three weeks should be examined, especially in people who smoke or use tobacco.
YOUR VISIT
What happens at a throat and voice consultation.
Bring previous prescriptions and any scan or endoscopy reports. It helps to note how many throat infections you have had in the past year.
1
History and examination
Your symptoms, how you use your voice at work, smoking and tobacco use, reflux symptoms, and an examination of the mouth, throat and neck.
2
Camera examination of the voice box
A thin flexible camera passed through the nose shows the throat and the vocal cords moving as you speak. It takes a few minutes and needs no anaesthetic beyond a numbing spray.
3
Further tests when needed
A scan, a swallowing X-ray or a sleep study is arranged only when the examination points to it.
4
A clear plan
You will be told what was found and the options: voice care and medicines, referral for voice therapy, or surgery when it is clearly needed.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
Most throat and voice problems do not need surgery.
Medicines and therapy
Treatment for infection, reflux or allergy when appropriate, and referral to a speech and language therapist for voice therapy.
Surgery
Considered for frequent tonsillitis, for growths on the vocal cords, and when a biopsy is needed to reach a diagnosis.
THROAT & VOICE SURGERY
Operations that may be advised.
Tonsillectomy
Removal of the tonsils under general anaesthetic. Adults usually have a sore throat for about two weeks and need that time off work.
Microlaryngoscopy
The voice box is examined through the mouth with a microscope under general anaesthetic. Polyps, nodules or cysts on the vocal cords can be removed, with no cuts on the neck. A period of voice rest follows.
Biopsy
A small sample is taken from any suspicious area of the throat or voice box and examined under a microscope. If cancer is found, you will be referred to the appropriate team without delay.
Risks
These include bleeding, infection and anaesthetic risks. Bleeding after tonsillectomy can occur up to two weeks later and needs urgent attention. Voice box surgery carries a small risk of a lasting change in voice, and of injury to the teeth or lips. Dr Khokhar will explain how each applies to you before you decide.
When to seek urgent care
Go to the nearest emergency department if you have:
- Difficulty breathing or noisy breathing.
- Being unable to swallow saliva, drooling, or being unable to open the mouth fully.
- A severe sore throat on one side with high fever and a muffled voice.
- A fish bone or other object stuck in the throat, or any bleeding after a tonsil operation.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Questions patients often ask.
When should I worry about a hoarse voice?
Hoarseness after a cold usually clears within two weeks. If it lasts more than three weeks, have your voice box examined, particularly if you smoke or use tobacco.
Is the camera examination painful?
No. A numbing spray is used, and most people feel only a tickling sensation in the nose for a minute or two.
Can acid reflux affect my throat?
Yes. Reflux can cause throat clearing, a lump-in-the-throat feeling, a cough and a hoarse voice, sometimes without any heartburn.
Do adults need their tonsils removed?
Sometimes. Surgery is discussed for adults with frequent, disabling tonsillitis or a previous abscess around the tonsil (quinsy). Occasional sore throats do not need an operation.
I feel a lump in my throat but can swallow normally. What is it?
This is a common sensation called globus. It is often linked to reflux or muscle tension and is usually harmless, but an examination is needed to be sure.
What should I bring to my appointment?
Previous prescriptions, any scan or endoscopy reports, and a list of your current medicines.
Reviewed by Dr M Riaz Khokhar, ENT Consultant · November 2026. This page gives general information and does not replace a consultation.
Ready to arrange a throat and voice consultation?
Monday–Friday · 5–7 pm · PNS Hafeez Hospital Islamabad