Bulgaria

Dosjo Doskov, Sofia

The founder of the Phoniatria in Bulgaria was the deceased Professor Maximov. As assistant at the ENT clinic of the Faculty of Medicine in Sofia in 1946, he founded the first consulting phoniatric office. It is difficult to the describe Prof. Maximov,s versatile scientific, teaching and medical activities. He was author of more than 75 publications, monographs (The Essentials of Phoniatria, Phoniatria, Vocal Phonology), as well as the first successfully defended dissertation on a phoniatric theme (Functional aphonies and their treatment). He was also a lecturer in Phonology at the Conservatory. By the end of his live he treated patients with voice problems. He was one of the founders of the UEP, as well as holder of the jubilee medal “ Hermann Gutzmann Senior” which was awarded for special achievements in the field of Phoniatria.

It is necessary to point out the contributions of Dr. Troshan Troshanov (chief of the Phoniatric office at the ENT clinic at the University Hospital “Queen Giovanna” from 1961 to 1975), for the development of Phoniatria in our country. He was highly erudite phoniatrists and excellent singer at the Bulgarian Army’s choir. He organised annual courses for qualification and trained phoniatrically oriented specialists all over the country. Gradually, a net of phoniatric offices was opened: Assoc. Prof. L. Drumeva - High Military Medical Institute, Assoc. Prof. Karov - High Medical Institute, Plovdiv ; Dr. Kolev - Stara Zagora ; Dr. Vassileva - Bourgas ; Dr. Yakovchev - Rousse ; Prof. Papurov - Varna ; Dr. Nenov - Pleven.
A phoniatric control in the leading cultural institutions (opera, musical theatres, ect.) was implemented (Dr. Beneva, Dr. Moskov, Prof. Doskov).

In 1973 Scientific Institute of ENT at the Medical Academy, Sofia was founded with help of the Director of the Institute - Prof. Vl. Pavlov, the consulting phoniatric office grew into a phoniatric sector with chief - Prof. Doskov, which has a modern phonological laboratory, possibilities for hospitalisation, and two offices. More than 8000 patients with different voice pathology are treated, and more than 100 phonosurgical operations annually are held in the sector. For the first time in our country, a voice rehabilitation of all voice problems, as well as a treatment of laryngectomy patients are held. A professional choice of applicants and the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts, major choirs in the country implemented.

It is necessary to point out the dissertation of Assoc. Prof. Golemanov: Senile changes in the auditory, olfactory and gustatory analysers and the voice (`197 ), Phonopedic rehabilitation of the laryngectomy patients (Assoc. Prof. D. Doskov, 1983), Computer analysis of laryngeal diseases (Assoc. Prof. L. Drumeva, 1990), Diagnostic possibilities of stroboscopy tomography and phonosurgery concerning nodosus formatios, precancers of the glottis (Assoc. Prof. Iv. Karov 1990), New methods for studying the voice in normal and pathological condition(Assoc. Prof. D. Doskov 1998).

In 1996, the Association of the Bulgarian logopedics and phoniatrics was founded. It is necessary to point out the close contracts and cooperation with the UEP, International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics , as well as the American Voice Foundation. Clinic testing of six joint scientific contracts with phoniatric clinic in Poland, France, USA, Belgium, Chroatia and Finland is held in the phoniatric sector at the University Hospital “Queen Giovanna”.

During the last decades as a result of the quick progress of the scientific and technical achievements, many modern methods for objective analysis of disturbed laryngeal functions were introduced. The usage of videolaryngostroboscopy, EMG of the laryngeal muscularity, glotography, phonetography, as well as the different electroacoustic and computer methods for analysing the voice signal excessively improved the diagnostic and treatment strategy.

It is necessary to develop and equip more modern phonologic laboratories with specialised aparatures for studying the voice in normal and pathological aspects. At the moment such laboratories exist in the phoniatric sector at the University Hospital “Queen Giovanna”, and ENT clinic at High Military Medical Institute - Sofia. A clinic for communicative disturbances should be founded in order to deal with problems concerning the human analysers.

In our opinion this is the contemporary way for improving the professional skills of the phoniatrics.