Your patient, Mohammed, had a 6-week course of voice therapy for a moderate-sized polyp and a reactive lesion.

Your patient, Mohammed, had a 6-week course of voice therapy for a moderate-sized polyp and a reactive lesion. While the reactive lesion showed significant regression, the polyp still remains. The laryngologist has recommended microlaryngoscopy in the OR for removal of this lesion. Mohammed is a small business owner and is very concerned about the 7-day required postoperative voice rest. His otolaryngologist has stated that he must have 4 days of complete voice rest and then 3 additional days of modified voice rest (use of confidential flow phonation only and for no more than 15 minutes per hour). You provide education and counseling. He indicates that he is not planning on full compliance with this recommendation that he “can’t live” without talking because his job requires him to talk with customers and vendors all day long. How will you respond to his statement regarding potential noncompliance? What recommendations do you have for Mohammed?