Voice Disorders Symptoms & Treatment

Voice Disorders

Voice disorders may result from neurological disorders, vocal fold paralysis, acid reflux, vocal abuse, or misuse. A voice disturbance, mostly called dysphonia, is a condition that changes voice production and its quality. People with voice disorder experience discomfort on the throat, fatigue, or tiredness, hoarseness, and breathiness.

Common types of voice disorders are:

Laryngitis - is an inflammation of the larynx/voice box which results in hoarseness, voice loss, and throat pain.

Vocal fold lesions (nodules, polyps, and cysts)- are the benign laryngeal abnormal growth of vocal folds tissues or the larynx.

Laryngopharyngeal reflux - People with excessive acid reflux may experience voice disorder due to vocal folds damage/ulcer.

Vocal fold paralysis or paresis - is when one or both vocal folds are entirely immobile. This condition is caused by trauma, surgery, disease resulting in weakness in one or both vocal folds.

Other causes of voice disorders are contact ulcer, Muscle tension dysphonia, Spasmodic Dysphonia, Laryngeal cancer, laryngectomy, shortness of breath, and overuse or misuse of vocal folds (such as screaming, shouting, speaking loudly).

Common symptoms of voice disorders may include:

Hoarse voice
Weakened voice
Discomfort with speaking
Chronic sore throat
Chronic cough
A sensation of something in the throat
Vocal fatigue
Pitch breaks
Loss of singing range/quality
Difficulty with breath control/shortness of breath during speech, singing, or exercise