A voice disorder is any condition that affects the pitch, volume, tone, or quality of the voice. These disorders can result from a variety of causes, including structural issues with the vocal cords, neurological conditions, infections, trauma, and misuse or overuse of the voice.
Any illness that alters a voice's pitch, loudness, tone, or quality is referred to as a vocal disorder. Numerous factors, including as abnormalities in the structure of the vocal cords, infections, trauma, neurological problems, and abuse or overuse of the voice, can lead to these illnesses.
Common types of Voice Disorders include :
Laryngitis : Inflammation of the vocal cords, often due to infection, overuse, or irritation from smoking or allergens.
Vocal Nodules and Polyps : Benign growths on the vocal cords often caused by chronic vocal strain.
Vocal Cord Paralysis : A condition where one or both vocal cords do not move properly, which can be due to nerve damage.
Spasmodic Dysphonia : A neurological disorder that causes involuntary spasms of the vocal cords.
Vocal Cord Cysts : Fluid-filled sacs on the vocal cords that can affect voice quality.
Muscle Tension Dysphonia : Excessive muscle tension around the voice box, often due to stress or poor vocal technique.
Causes of voice disorders :
The most frequent cause of vocal issues is overuse of the voice. You can shout, sing, or just talk too much if you misuse your voice. Sometimes, voice disorders are the result of a short-term (acute) illness like a cold, allergies or sinus infection (sinusitis). Once you recover, they usually go away within a few days or weeks. More complex voice disorders occur when there’s a problem with the structure, muscles or nerves in your voice box or vocal cords.
Symptoms of voice disorders :
Symptoms of voice disorders can include hoarseness, loss of voice, a weak or breathy voice, difficulty projecting the voice, and vocal fatigue. Voice disorders can manifest in various ways, and their symptoms can range from mild to severe.
Some common symptoms of voice disorders include :
Hoarseness : A raspy or strained quality to the voice.
Breathiness : A voice that sounds airy or lacks clarity.
Loss of Pitch Range : Difficulty reaching high or low notes.
Vocal Fatigue : A tired feeling in the voice after speaking or singing.
Voice Loss : Partial or complete loss of voice.
Rough or Harsh Voice : A voice that sounds rough or harsh.
Pain or Discomfort : Pain in the throat, neck, or during speaking.
Throat Clearing : Frequent need to clear the throat.
Changes in Volume : Inability to speak loudly or softly as desired.
Pitch Breaks : Sudden, uncontrollable changes in pitch.
Strain or Tension : Feeling of strain or tension in the throat while speaking or singing.
Unsteady Voice : A voice that wavers or trembles.
Voice Cracking : Sudden breaks in the voice, especially during puberty.
Diagnosis of Voice Disorder :
Diagnosis typically involves a combination of medical history review, physical examination, and specialized tests like laryngoscopy, which allows a team of healthcare professionals, including otolaryngologists (ENT specialists), speech-language pathologists, and sometimes neurologists. to visualize the vocal cords.
Treatment depends on the specific disorder and may include voice therapy with a speech-language pathologist, medications to treat underlying conditions, or surgery in some cases. Voice rest and proper vocal hygiene are also important components of managing and preventing voice disorders.
Once a diagnosis is made, the healthcare team can develop a treatment plan tailored to the specific voice disorder, which may include voice therapy, medication, surgery, or lifestyle changes.
Medical History : The doctor will begin by taking a detailed medical history, including any past illnesses, surgeries, medications, and lifestyle factors such as smoking or heavy voice use.
Voice Evaluation : A speech-language pathologist may perform a voice evaluation to assess the quality, pitch, loudness, and flexibility of the voice. This can involve listening to the patient's voice, recording it, and using specific questionnaires.
Laryngoscopy : The ENT specialist may perform a laryngoscopy to visualize the vocal cords and larynx. This procedure involves inserting a small, flexible scope through the nose or mouth to examine the vocal cords.
Stroboscopy : This is a specialized form of laryngoscopy that uses a strobe light to make the vocal cords appear to be moving in slow motion. This helps to assess the vibratory function of the vocal cords.
Imaging Tests : In some cases, imaging tests such as MRI or CT scans may be used to get a more detailed view of the vocal cords and surrounding structures.
Acoustic Analysis : This involves using computer software to analyze the sound of the voice. Parameters such as frequency, intensity, and perturbation (jitter and shimmer) can be measured.
Aerodynamic Assessment : This tests how air flows through the vocal cords and the efficiency of the vocal cord closure. It can provide information on the respiratory function related to voice production.
Laboratory Tests : If an infection or systemic disease is suspected to be contributing to the voice disorder, blood tests or other laboratory tests may be conducted.
Trial Therapy : Sometimes, a period of voice therapy may be used as both a diagnostic and treatment tool to see how the voice responds to different techniques and exercises.