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American Morning

Ask CNN: Does Getting Your Tonsils Out Affect Your Voice?

Aired May 04, 2001 - 09:43   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HEATHER SCHULO, ACWORTH, GEORGIA: Hello, my name is Heather Schulo. And I am from Acworth, Georgia.

And my question is: After you get your tonsils taken out, does it affect your voice?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Heather, having your tonsils out should not affect your voice permanently. Let's talk a little bit about what the tonsils are.

They are masses of lymphoid tissue located in the back of your throat. And they contain cells that help fight infections.

UNIDENTIFIED DOCTOR: Open your mouth real wide.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ahh.

UNIDENTIFIED DOCTOR: Say ahh.

COHEN: However, sometimes, the tonsils are chronically infected and become enlarged and can interfere with breathing or swallowing. And then sometimes doctors have to remove them. And sometimes the voice does change permanently. But, really, what it's just doing is going back to normal after having sounded funny because the tonsils became enlarged.

But, no, having your tonsils out should not affect your voice for the worse.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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