What are voice disorders?
For individuals who rely on their voice for their livelihoods, such as singers, actors, TV and radio hosts, and more, voice disorders can be distressing.
What are common conditions that affect the vocal quality?
There are many medical conditions, particularly those localized in the larynx and throat, that can affect how sound is produced from the throat. This, in turn, affects the vocal quality. However, in most cases, these conditions can be treated by specialists. They include the following:
- Laryngitis: Inflammation of the larynx, or the vocal cords. Many people have experienced this and refer to it as ‘losing their voice’. People with laryngitis tend to sound hoarse. It usually resolves on its own.
- Partial or total vocal cord paralysis: This usually occurs as a result of a viral infection, suffering a stroke, or damage to a nerve during surgery. It can manifest as either noisy breathing or a weak voice. The symptoms can improve for some people, though others may have permanent paralysis.
- Spasmodic dysphonia: This is a neurological condition that affects the vocal cords. It causes random spasms of the vocal cords that affect the voice. This can manifest in a number of ways, either as the voice being hoarse, groaning, or shaky.
- Vocal cord polyps/nodules: These are benign growths on the vocal cords. They occur frequently in singers, as they develop from straining the voice for extended periods. They affect vocal quality in multiple ways. They can make the voice lower-pitched, breathy, raspy, or hoarse.
What are risk factors for changes in the voice?
Taking good care of the throat and voice can greatly reduce the risk of a voice disorder occurring. A patient who follows specific tips can minimize risk factors and keep their voice sounding healthy. These risk factors include:
- Alcohol consumption
- Smoking
- Allergies
- Upper respiratory infections
- Previous neck surgery
- Straining the voice
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Dehydration
- Consuming excessively hot or cold foods/drinks
How does a specialist investigate vocal changes?
The most commonly used tests for investigating vocal changes typically involve visualizing the vocal cords directly. Seeing their state and appearance can provide a wealth of information to the well-trained ENT specialist.
Investigations that are commonly used include:
- Direct visualization with a mirror. The mirror is at the end of a rigid instrument, allowing the specialist to introduce it into the mouth and view the larynx.
- Laryngoscopy: This can be performed using either a flexible laryngoscope, which is a flexible tube with a light and a camera, inserted through the nose, or using a rigid laryngoscope.
- Videostroboscopy: This investigation involves using a camera combined with a repeatedly flashing light to obtain a slow-motion video of the movement of the vocal cords. This can provide more information than regular laryngoscopy.
Other investigations that can be used to assess the state of the vocal cords include acoustic analysis, which is the use of a computer program to observe sound changes from the vocal cords.
Laryngeal electromyography is another great option. It is used to measure the electrical signals that pass through the laryngeal muscles. This can be used to diagnose neurological vocal cord issues, as well as those directly related to the laryngeal muscles.
How are voice disorders treated?
Voice disorders can be treated in three ways: with conservative treatment, medication, and surgery. It all depends on the cause.
Conservative treatment involves basic tips, such as:
- Staying properly hydrated by drinking sufficient water
- Resting the body and the vocal cords to give them time to recover
- Undergoing voice therapy if necessary, to help utilize the voice better
- Stopping alcohol and quitting smoking
Medical treatment can be to take care of conditions like reflux disease or to reduce inflammation in the throat.
Surgical procedures can be done to remove any nodules or polyps on the vocal cords. For precancerous or cancerous conditions, laser treatments can be used instead.
For spasmodic voice disorders, Botox can be injected into the vocal cords. This will reduce muscle activity to prevent a change in voice quality.
What are some other good resources on vocal disorders?
If you’re looking to learn more about voice disorders, there are great online resources available for you to peruse. Here are some of the best of them:
