Voice Disorders
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What are Voice Disorders?
A voice disorder is a change in how the voice sounds. Vocal cords are muscles located in the larynx (voice box) that vibrate when you breathe out, producing the voice. When your vocal cords become swollen or inflamed, develop growths, or can't move as they should, they can't work correctly. This is what causes voice disorders.
Some common voice disorders include:
- Laryngitis
- Muscle tension dysphonia
- Spasmodic dysphonia
- Vocal cord dysfunction
- Polyps, nodules, or cysts on the vocal cords
- Precancerous and cancerous growths
- Vocal fold paralysis and weakening
Symptoms of Voice Disorders
- Hoarseness
- Voice strain
- Raspy voice
- Pitch changes
- Taking more effort to speak or sing
Causes of Voice Disorders
The most common cause of voice disorders is overuse, such as yelling, singing, or even talking too much. They can also be caused by an issue with the structure of the vocal cords.
Sometimes, voice disorders result from short-term illnesses like a cold or an infection. The most common cause of laryngitis is viral infection, which causes swelling in the vocal cords. Other infections that can impact the voice are candidiasis and ulcerative laryngitis.
Some autoimmune disorders can negatively affect the voice by targeting the joints, muscles, nerves, and/or surface tissues of the throat and larynx. Those that are most commonly related to voice changes include myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjogren’s syndrome.
UR Medicine's Treatments for Voice Disorders
Depending on your voice disorder, you may be referred to a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). They will likely perform an exam to evaluate your voice and determine the best course of treatment.
Assessment may include:
- A detailed history collection
- Laryngeal Function Studies consisting of computerized voice analysis and airway measures
- Behavioral voice and communication analysis
- Stimulability trials
Prior to the initiation of voice therapy, a laryngeal examination must be completed in order to identify the etiology of your individual voice problem and determine the most appropriate course of treatment.
Treatment will depend on the specific voice disorder, but may include:
- Rest and liquids
- Voice therapy
- Respiratory muscle strength training
- Allergy treatments
- Stopping smoking
- Medicine
- Removal of growths
- KTP laser treatment
- Injections
- Thyroplasty—surgery that changes the position of the vocal cord
What Sets Us Apart?
UR Medicine Voice Center is the only voice center in Upstate New York with a comprehensive team of voice experts, including ear, nose, and throat (ENT) physicians who are fellowship-trained in voice disorders.
Our speech pathologists have specialized training to evaluate and treat patients with voice, swallowing, and breathing problems and complex conditions such as voice restoration after throat cancer. Our team also includes trained singing voice specialists who are experienced performers, singers, and singing teachers who understand the challenges of being a vocal professional.
Using the latest techniques and therapies, we effectively treat less common voice problems, such as spasmodic dysphonia, essential voice tremor, muscle tension dysphonia, aging voice, and throat cancer and voice box cancer.
We also offer surgical options to improve vocal quality if you have vocal cord paralysis. Using microsurgery, a technique proven to provide the best voice outcome, we remove growths on the vocal cords. We identify the root of your voice disorder, treat it quickly and effectively, and improve your overall vocal health.
Providers
Patient Education & Support
If you have a voice disorder, the following may help with recovery:
- Avoid smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke
- Limit alcohol and caffeine
- Drink plenty of water
- Keep spicy foods out of your diet
- Include a variety of healthy foods in your diet
- Avoid clearing your throat
- Avoid upper respiratory infections