Voice Disorders: Diagnosis, Types & Treatment Options
We communicate in different ways. The most common and known form is through talking. This means of communication can be a challenge if we’re experiencing changes in our voice.
Changes in voice can be caused by different things. It can be due to age-related changes to the vocal cords or conditions affecting them.
Common vocal cord conditions
• Paradoxical Vocal Cord Movement (PVFM)
PVFM occurs when the vocal cords close when they should open. This makes it hard to talk or breathe.
Normally, when we breathe, our vocal cords open to let the air get through the lungs. When you have PVFM, the vocal cords close or partially open.
PVFM symptoms, especially the difficulty in breathing, can sometimes be mistaken for a symptom of asthma.
PVFM is not the same as asthma. Aside from the difficulty in breathing, PVFM can also cause coughing, noisy breathing, tightness in the throat, rough-sounding voice, and sudden loss of voice.
• Spasmodic Dysphonia
Spasmodic dysphonia (SD) is a chronic voice disorder caused by the vocal folds not moving the way they should.
If you have SD, your vocal folds may tighten or spasm each time you talk. This causes your voice to sound jerky, hoarse, or shaky. There can even be times when you don’t make any sounds at all!
Some nervous system conditions such as dystonia can lead to SD. Chronic stress may also cause your vocal folds to tighten.
• Vocal Fold Nodules and Polyps
Vocal fold nodules are growths that are formed in your vocal folds. While they can be benign (non-cancerous), they can get larger and stiffer.
Polyps can also grow on your vocal folds. They may develop in just one or both of your vocal folds.
Generally, polyps are larger than nodules. You can think of polyps as blisters and nodules as callouses.
Both nodules and polyps can cause hoarseness in voice, shooting pain from one ear to another, fatigue, and neck pain.
• Vocal Fold Paralysis
Vocal fold paralysis can happen when one or both vocal cords are not able to move.
Nerve damage, specifically of the vagus nerve, is the most common cause of vocal fold paralysis. The vagus nerve is responsible for controlling the vocal fold movement. Any damage to this can impact the movement of the vocal folds.
With vocal fold paralysis, one may experience an inability to speak loudly, hoarseness of voice, coughing or choking while eating, and a breathy voice.
Treating Voice Disorders
Treatment varies, depending largely on the type of condition you have, its severity, and your overall health.
Treatment may be one or a combination of the following:
• voice therapy
• medications
• surgery
Our specialists at Greater Knoxville ENT can determine the underlying cause of your voice issues and recommend the most suitable treatment.
For appointment requests, please call (865) 244-4396.