A Munster pastor will mark World Voice Day today with the ability to speak clearly for the first time in several years.

Frustrated by his voice cutting in and out, the Rev. Jim Hollendoner, lead pastor at Munster Church, turned to Inna Husain, MD, a board-certified otolaryngologist and subspecialist in laryngology at Community Healthcare System, for care. As a professional communicator, Hollendoner depends on his ability to speak.

Husain suspected and confirmed Hollendoner had a polyp on one of his vocal cords. The 39-year-old married father of three underwent a polypectomy in August to remove it. Hollendoner is grateful for Husain’s skilled intervention to get him back at the pulpit with a reliable voice.

“It’s given me an opportunity to say that I’ve been given an ability and a gift, and I need to be a good steward of it,” he said.

Hollendoner also praised the speech therapy he received through Community Healthcare System.

“It was a great team effort,” Hollendoner said. “It showed me that Community Healthcare System has a staff wanting the best for me and what I needed to do. I felt cared for from the very beginning.”

At Community Healthcare System, Husain and Abbey Carlson, a voice-specialized speech-language pathologist, are committed to providing patients with access to exceptional voice care.

“Success stories like Jim’s are why we do what we do,” Husain said. “Voice disorders can affect a person’s ability to work, participate in conversations or enjoy hobbies that rely on a normal voice. We were overjoyed to get Jim back to using his voice to lead his congregation and improve his quality of life by restoring his ability to communicate freely.”

World Voice Day, observed annually on April 16, is devoted to celebrating the human voice and raising awareness for voice disorders.

Signs of a voice disorder include a persistent change in the pitch, quality or volume of voice. Other signs are throat discomfort, increased vocal effort or vocal fatigue when talking. These challenges can cause emotional distress because voices often are tied to a person’s sense of identity. If voice changes last longer than two weeks, it is recommended to be evaluated by an otolaryngologist and speech-language pathologist.

Community Healthcare System offers comprehensive services, including advanced diagnostics with high-definition imaging and playback capabilities, and a range of therapeutic options such as phonomicrosurgery and behavioral therapy.

If you find yourself struggling with your voice, make an appointment by calling 219-703-2449.