There are multiple factors that may cause voice disorders. These conditions mean voice changes caused by certain things. Commonly, people with voice disorders are treated by healthcare providers specialized in ear, nose, and throat conditions and speech-language pathologists. The treatment often is different among people because it depends on the exact cause that leads to voice changes. It commonly includes voice therapy, medicines, shots, or surgery.
Causes
The voice box (also known as the larynx) is made of muscle, smooth covering, and soft areas. It is located at the top of the windpipe (also called the trachea) and the tongue base. When a person speaks, the vocal cords start to vibrate to produce sounds.
Normally, the air that moves through the voice box triggers the vocal cords to vibrate. Moreover, vocal cords help close the voice box when you swallow to prevent you from breathing in the foods or liquids.
Voice disorders usually happen when the vocal cords cannot work properly due to inflammation, swelling, or developing growths (such as cysts). Check below the most common voice disorders:
- Laryngitis
- Precancerous and cancerous growths (also known as tumors)
- Leukoplakia (also called white patches)
- Cysts, nodules, or polyps that develop on the vocal cords
- Spasmodic dysphonia (these are conditions related to the nervous system or brain)
Risk Factors
Healthcare providers found certain factors that may elevate your risk of developing vocal disorders. Check some of them below:
- GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
- Respiratory infections
- Tissue scarring caused by neck surgery or trauma
- Screaming
- Smoking
- Throat dehydration or cancer
- Voice misuse or overuse
- Thyroid gland problems (such as hyperthyroidism)
- Health conditions of the nervous system or brain (including Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and others)
- Allergies
- Misuse of alcohol
- Aging
Diagnosis
Physicians usually perform a physical examination to check for abnormalities associated with voice disorders and ask some questions about symptoms. Furthermore, they usually give the patients a numbing medicine and may use any of the following tools for examination. Examples include:
- Mirror – This is a specific instrument similar to a dental mirror that is inserted into the mouth to check for irregularities.
- Flexible laryngoscope – This is a flexible and thin tube with a camera on the end that is inserted through the nose.
- Rigid laryngoscope – It is a stiff viewing tube used to examine the mouth, throat, and voice box.
- Videostraboscope – This tool combines a flashing light and a camera that allows the doctor to see the vocal cords in a slow-motion view during their movement.
Sometimes, to confirm the condition, physicians may perform some tests. These include:
- Sound analysis – This test involves a computer that can measure what is unusual in the sound of the vocal cords.
- Laryngeal electromyography – It involves small needles that are inserted through the skin to measure the electrical currents in the muscles of the voice box.
Treatment
Doctors usually recommend different treatments for people with voice disorders because it depends on several factors. For example your age, the severity of the condition, the type of the voice disorder, and others. Check below some treatments usually recommended for people with these conditions:
- Voice therapy, rest, and liquids – You may be directed to a speech pathology specialist who can teach you how to use the voice better. They also may teach you how to clean the throat. However, like other body parts, the vocal cords need rest and fluids.
- Allergy treatments – If you experience vocal disorders due to an allergy, physicians may recommend some medicines and diet.
- Smoking cessation – If you quit smoking it may help improve your voice. Anyway, stopping smoking will help improve other body parts as well. If you facing problems with quitting smoking, discuss it with your doctor.
- Medications – There are multiple medicines that can be used to treat voice disorders. For instance, physicians may prescribe some medicines to treat the underlying cause including inflammation, GERD, stop blood vessel regrowth, and others. These medications are available in oral and injectable forms.
Other Treatments
- Growths removal – If you experience voice disorders due to growths (such as nodules, cysts, or tumors) physicians may recommend additional treatments. These include microsurgery, carbon dioxide laser surgery, potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser treatment, and others. In addition, KTP laser treatment is used to cut the blood vessels that supply the abnormal growths.
- Injections – Some people require an injection of purified botulinum toxin into the neck skin to interrupt muscle spasms or abnormal movements. This treatment option is usually prescribed for people with spasmodic dysphonia.
In some cases, when one vocal cord becomes paralyzed, people may experience hoarseness, choke when drinking liquids, or even experience swallowing problems when eating solid foods. Usually, this problem goes away on its own.
However, if the problem does not disappear you may need additional procedures that make the vocal cords meet together and vibrate. These procedures may help improve the voice and lessen swallowing problems. For example:
- Collagen or fat injection – This injection is usually injected through the mouth of the neck skin to the paralyzed vocal cord. It contains body fat or synthetic (human-made) collagen. Moreover, these injections can be used to treat vocal cord weakness.
- Thyroplasty – This is a surgery that involves an opening in the cartilage (a specific tissue from the outside of the vocal box). Thereafter, surgeons will put an implant that pushes against the paralyzed vocal cord.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common causes of voice disorders?
These include:
- Psychological trauma
- Neurological diseases (including vocal fold paralysis, spasmodic dysphonia, and others)
- Vocal cord growths (such as nodules, cysts, or polyps)
- Inflammation from the gastroesophageal reflux disease (also known as GERD)
- Upper respiratory infections
- Vocal misuse or abuse
- Alcohol drinking, especially in large amounts
If you suspect you have a voice disorder, do not hesitate to see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
What are the most diagnosed voice disorders?
- Spasmodic dysphonia
- Vocal polyps or nodules
- Hoarseness
- Muscle tension dysphonia
- Vocal cord paralysis
- Laryngitis
Consult with your doctor for more details.
What happens if voice disorders are left untreated?
People who ignore the symptoms and do not treat voice disorders may experience some complications. These include:
- Speech problems (including dysphonia, aphonia, strained voice, and others)
- Difficulty swallowing
- Breathing problems (such as shortness of breath, exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction, and others)
- Mood swings
- Cancer (sometimes, voice disorders indicate cancer, especially if you experience hoarseness for more than 21 days in a row)
If you have additional questions, ask your healthcare provider.
