Voice Disorders Expert in Perumbakkam
Your Trusted Partner in Voice Disorders
Voice disorders affect your ability to speak clearly. They’re usually the result of overusing your voice or issues with your voice box or vocal cords.We are here to provide you with top-notch care and guidance to tackle your problems.
Understanding Voice Disorders
What are the categories of Voice Disorders?
Voice disorders typically fall into one of the following categories, but they may overlap:
- Functional: The structures that produce vocal sounds — your voice box, vocal cords and lungs — are normal, but you have problems using them. Functional disorders are usually the result of not being able to use your vocal cord muscles.
- Organic: There are problems with the structure of your voice box, vocal cords or lungs. Organic disorders are usually structural (such as abnormal growths on your larynx) or neurological (another disorder affects the nerves that control your larynx).
- Psychogenic: Although rare, some voice disorders develop due to emotional stress or trauma. They might be the result of anxiety, depression or conversion disorder.
What causes Voice Disorders?
Overusing your voice is the most common cause of voice disorders. You can overuse your voice by yelling, singing or simply talking too much.
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:
- Gurgly or wet
- Rough, strained.
- Strangled or breathy.
- Too high or too low.
- Too loud or too soft.
- Uneven or shaky, with breaks or gaps in sound.
- raspy or hoarse.
What are the different types of Voice Disorders?
There are many types of voice disorders, but some of the most common include:
- Hoarseness is when your voice sounds raspy or weak. It can have lots of causes, from viral infections to Parkinson’s disease.
- Laryngitis is irritation or swelling of your voice box. It’s usually temporary and the result of allergies or an upper respiratory infection.
- Muscle tension dysphonia occurs when you put too much stress on your vocal cords and the muscles get tight.
- Spasmodic dysphonia causes spasms in your voice box muscles.
- Vocal cord Dysfunction(VCD) prevents your vocal cords from opening all the way, which can lead to breathing problems.
- Vocal cord lesions are benign (noncancerous) growths — such as nodules, polyps or cysts — that can affect your voice.
- Vocal cord paralysis prevents you from controlling your voice box muscles.
How are Voice Disorders Diagnosed?
Your primary healthcare provider may diagnose a voice disorder, or they may refer you to a speech-language pathologist or laryngologist (a doctor who specializes in disorders of the voice box). They perform a thorough physical exam and evaluate your symptoms and medical history. Your healthcare provider may ask you questions about how your voice challenges are affecting your life at home, work or school.
Your healthcare provider will look very closely at your face, head, neck and throat while you perform speaking or breathing exercises. Report any physical symptoms you feel during these exercises. Tell them if you have pain, scratchiness or difficulty breathing.
If you do see a speech-language pathologist, this provider will likely perform detailed tests to assess different aspects of your voice, including tone, pitch and volume.
To see how well your voice box and vocal cords are working, your healthcare provider may recommend imaging tests. A laryngoscopy uses a special tool called a laryngoscope (a thin, flexible tube with a video camera attached) to examine the back of your throat. During this test, they may also perform a biospy. Your healthcare provider takes samples from nodules, polyps or cysts and examines them under a microscope to check for diseases.
Treatments
Some short-term voice disorders, such as hoarseness, might improve by resting your voice. Avoid shouting, singing or straining your voice for several days. Talk as little as possible.
People with more complex voice disorders may need voice therapy. Speech-language pathologists teach techniques and exercises to regulate your voice so you can communicate more clearly. A few examples include:
- Accent method: You learn to coordinate breathing and speaking while keeping vocal cord muscles relaxed.
- Auditory masking: You speak out loud while wearing headphones that play loud noise in the background, teaching you to amplify your voice.
- Conversation training therapy: You learn to speak using conversations that are relevant to you. Therapists help you with additional aspects of communication such as hand gestures and facial expressions.
Some voice disorders require medical or surgical treatment, such as botulin toxin injection to relax the tight voice box muscles.
Frequently Asked Question on Voice Disorders
A voice disorder is a condition that affects the pitch, loudness, quality, or overall production of the voice. It can result from various causes, including functional, neurological, or structural issues.
Voice therapy is a rehabilitative approach conducted by speech-language pathologists to address voice disorders. It involves exercises and techniques to improve vocal habits and optimize voice production.
Stress and psychological factors can contribute to functional dysphonia, a voice disorder without an apparent physical or neurological cause. Managing stress and seeking psychological support may be part of the treatment plan.
If an individual experiences persistent voice changes, hoarseness, or discomfort, it is advisable to seek evaluation by a healthcare professional, typically an otolaryngologist or a speech-language pathologist specializing in voice disorders.
Yes, voice disorders can affect individuals of all ages, including children. Common causes in children may include misuse of the voice, infections, or structural abnormalities.
Yes, voice disorders can have social and emotional impacts. Individuals may experience challenges in communication and may feel frustrated, anxious, or depressed due to voice-related difficulties.