Dysphonia

Dysphonia is a medical condition characterized by abnormal voice changes. It is often associated with hoarseness, voice strain, or a change in pitch or volume. Dysphonia can be caused by a variety of factors, including vocal cord damage, neurological disorders, and certain medications.

Causes[edit | edit source]

Dysphonia can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

Vocal cord nodules and polyps: These are noncancerous growths on the vocal cords that can cause a raspy or breathy voice.
Neurological disorders: Conditions such as Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and multiple sclerosis can cause dysphonia.
Medications: Certain drugs, including some used to treat Parkinson's disease, can cause voice changes.

Symptoms[edit | edit source]

The symptoms of dysphonia can vary depending on the cause, but may include:

Hoarseness
Voice strain
Changes in pitch or volume
A raspy or breathy voice
Difficulty speaking

Diagnosis[edit | edit source]

Dysphonia is typically diagnosed through a physical examination and a review of the patient's medical history. The doctor may also order tests such as a laryngoscopy or stroboscopy to examine the vocal cords.

Treatment[edit | edit source]

Treatment for dysphonia depends on the underlying cause. Options may include:

Voice therapy: This involves working with a speech-language pathologist to improve voice quality.
Medication: If dysphonia is caused by a medical condition, treating that condition may help improve voice quality.
Surgery: In some cases, surgery may be needed to remove nodules or polyps from the vocal cords.

See also[edit | edit source]

Dysphonia Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? Need help finding a doctor or specialist anywhere in the world? Explore our world directory. WikiMD's DocFinder can assist you in locating millions of physicians.	Medical Knowledge Access the latest research - Most recent articles Ongoing trials.