Voice disorders

Voice disorders are medical conditions involving abnormal pitch, loudness or quality of the sound produced by the larynx and thereby affecting speech production. They can be caused by a variety of factors, including injury, disease, psychological issues, or a physical deformity.

Types of Voice Disorders

There are several types of voice disorders, including:

• Dysphonia: This is a general term for voice disorders. It is characterized by the abnormal production of vocal sound due to muscle dysfunction in the larynx.

• Aphonia: This is a complete loss of voice. It can be caused by damage to the larynx, psychological issues, or neurological disorders.

• Paradoxical vocal fold movement (PVFM): This is a condition where the vocal cords close when they should be open, causing difficulty breathing.

• Spasmodic dysphonia: This is a neurological disorder affecting the voice muscles in the larynx. It causes the voice to break or to have a tight, strained or strangled quality.

Causes

Voice disorders can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Laryngitis: This is inflammation of the larynx, often caused by a viral infection or overuse of the voice.

• Vocal cord nodules and polyps: These are noncancerous growths on the vocal cords that can cause a raspy or breathy voice.

• Vocal cord paralysis: This is a loss of function of the vocal cords due to nerve damage.

• Neurological disorders: Conditions such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, or myasthenia gravis can affect the nerves controlling the vocal cords.

• Psychological stress: Stress and anxiety can cause muscle tension in the throat, leading to voice changes.

Treatment

Treatment for voice disorders depends on the underlying cause and may include:

• Voice therapy: This involves working with a speech-language pathologist to learn techniques to improve voice quality.

• Medication: Certain medications can help treat underlying conditions that may be causing the voice disorder.

• Surgery: In some cases, surgery may be necessary to remove nodules or polyps, repair the vocal cords, or treat other underlying conditions.

See also

• Speech disorder
• Speech-language pathology

Voice disorders Resources
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