Voice disorders

From WikiMD's Wellnesspedia

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[edit | edit source]

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.
  • 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[edit | edit source]

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.
  • 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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]


Voice disorders Resources

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