The voice is an essential part of our lives. For professionals such as singers, voice actors, and teachers, maintaining vocal health is particularly crucial. However, long-term strain or aging can lead to vocal fold issues for many individuals.

In this context, Dr. Kazuhide Uchio opened Sorairo ENT Clinic, a facility specializing in voice disorders, with a mission to treat patients without surgery. As a physician who loves singing and understands the feelings of vocal performers, he has long been dedicated to helping those with vocal challenges.

Dr. Uchio has also been focused on the importance of antioxidants, having taken Twendee X continuously for three years. Aware of the impact of reactive oxygen species on the vocal folds, he actively incorporates antioxidant approaches into treatment.

In this interview, Dr. Uchio shares his insights into treating voice disorders, how to avoid surgery, and the therapeutic value of Twendee X.

“A Path to Healing Without Surgery” — A Voice-Specialized Clinic’s Mission

– What inspired you to open the clinic?

Dr. Uchio: I’ve always loved singing, and I wanted a career where I could support others with the same passion. I served as the lead for voice disorder treatment at Jikei University and opened this clinic in July 2021, focusing specifically on voice care.

While surgery is often performed at large hospitals for vocal nodules and polyps, I became more interested in treatments that avoid surgery. Once vocal fold surgery is done, the tissue never returns to its original state. This can be a significant issue for professionals who rely on their voice. I believe natural healing is a better route in many cases, which led me to establish this clinic.

– What kinds of patients visit your clinic?

Dr. Uchio: We treat general ENT issues, but recently, more patients have been coming specifically for voice-related care. While we have a few professional singers, most are middle-aged women who enjoy singing as a hobby.

Voice-specialized clinics are rare in Kanagawa and even across Japan, so we often receive patients from Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Shizuoka, and Nagano. Many come to us as a last hope after unsuccessful treatment elsewhere.

– What exactly are voice disorders?

Dr. Uchio: Vocal nodules and polyps are common among singers due to intense vocal use. Like a guitar string, if the vocal cords are tense, even a minor irregularity can affect vibration and make phonation difficult.

That’s why I prioritize treatments that avoid surgery. We focus on reducing inflammation, guiding proper voice use, and incorporating herbal medicine when needed. For example, we use medication to manage scarring and swelling in the vocal folds.

We also teach patients better vocal habits to reduce impact on the cords. And importantly, I emphasize antioxidants — reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in the vocal folds can increase the success of non-surgical recovery. Twendee X has been a valuable tool in this regard.

Antioxidants to Prevent Vocal Aging: Twendee X as a Non-Surgical Support

– Have you always focused on antioxidants?

Dr. Uchio: Honestly, I hadn’t thought much about oxidative stress and vocal folds until I read Professor Hirano’s paper.* I suspect most ENT doctors outside of voice specialists aren’t aware of this connection.

Recently, Dr. Inubo has presented on antioxidant treatment for sudden hearing loss, and awareness is growing within the ENT field.

– What led you to adopt Twendee X?

Dr. Uchio: I first learned about Twendee X when Dr. Inubo presented at the Japan Voice and Speech Medicine Conference. His name also appeared frequently in Professor Hirano’s papers, which piqued my interest. After reading the studies, I decided to introduce it in our clinic.

Dr. Inubo even visited our clinic thanks to a study group I was part of. That event deepened our connection and confirmed the potential of Twendee X for our patients.

– What types of patients are prescribed Twendee X?

Dr. Uchio: Currently, we mainly prescribe it to patients with hoarseness due to aging. Vocal folds can become dry and weak over time, and many patients in their 50s begin to notice reduced vocal strength and resonance.

Early intervention is key. Voice care as part of anti-aging is important, and I believe Twendee X is a valuable antioxidant therapy. We’ve had patients whose nodules or polyps resolved naturally while taking it.

That said, some patients are skeptical of supplements. They question the scientific basis. In such cases, we take time to explain the data and mechanisms so they feel confident in trying it.

Professionals who depend on their voice—like singers—are usually more open and proactive about it. More recently, we’ve also started recommending it for patients with sudden hearing loss, especially those who haven’t improved with other treatments after a year.

Conclusion

Dr. Uchio’s goal is to avoid surgery wherever possible and promote the natural recovery of vocal function. For those who rely on their voice professionally, surgery can be a major risk. By integrating vocal coaching and antioxidant care, his clinic provides meaningful, non-invasive alternatives. Twendee X is increasingly becoming a central part of that approach, with promising potential for future voice disorder treatments.

Sorairo ENT Clinic Center Kita
2F Vancour Center Kita, 1-2-1 Nakagawa Chuo, Tsuzuki-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 224-0003
https://www.senkita-jibika.com/