Some conditions in more details

Vocal disorders

  • The voice is the sound created when air from the lungs passes through the larynx (throat) and exits through the mouth or nose. Inside your larynx are two bands that face each other, called vocal cords.

    The vocal cords open when we breathe to allow air to pass through and close when we swallow to protect the airways. The voice is generated by the airflow from the lungs as the muscles of the larynx bring the vocal cords together. The pressure of the air causes the vocal cords to vibrate.

    At this point, the sound produced is just a buzz, but as it travels through the throat, is modified by the resonators of the vocal tract (the pharynx, mouth cavity, and nasal passages). The muscles modify the shape of the vocal tract and determine a big part of the acoustic characteristic your voice.

  • Voice disorders occur when there are abnormalities or changes in the respiratory, laryngeal, or resonant systems that disrupt the normal vibration of the vocal cords.

    Abnormalities in voice production can have structural, neurological, functional (i.e., improper use of the voice), or psychological causes. It is known that voice disorders reduce effective communication and can have a dramatic impact on a person’s occupational, social, physical, and psychological well-being.

    Approximately 3 out of 10 people will experience a voice disorder at some point in their lives.

  • The symptoms of voice disorders vary between individuals based on factors such as the type of vocal disorder, concurrent health issues, and occupational or social vocal demands. The onset of symptoms can be sudden or gradual. Additionally, for some individuals, the symptoms are always present, while for others, they are intermittent. The most common symptoms include:

    • Hoarse, breathy, or tense voice

    • Voice pitch that is too high or too low, unstable, or monotone

    • Reduced pitch or volume range

    • Voice cracks or breaks

    • Voice tremor

    • Vocal fatigue or discomfort

    • Difficulty projecting the voice or being heard over background noise

    • Shortness of breath during conversation

    • Irritation, pain, muscle tension, or the feeling of a lump in the throat

    • Frequent coughing or throat clearing

  • Vocal nodules

    Vocal nodules are benign lesions on the vocal cords that form as a result of repeated traumatic collisions between them. The cause of vocal nodules is often associated with excessive muscle tension. The formation of nodules is similar to the formation of calluses on skin which have been subjected to friction.

  • Vocal polyp

    Polyps are benign lesions filled with fluid. They typically develop as a result of acute trauma to the vocal cords and are often associated with excessive muscle tension. Polyps tend to grow on one vocal cord and come in various shapes, including those resembling a blister (known as sessile polyps) and those attached to a stalk (known as pedunculated polyps).

  • Vocal cist

    A vocal cyst is a sac-shaped lesion that forms just beneath the surface of the vocal cords. Cysts can be congenital or acquired and are usually caused by the retention of mucus due to the blockage of the duct opening of the submucosal glands.

  • Muscle Tension Dysphonia

    Muscle Tension Dysphonia (MTD) occurs when a person uses a dysfunctional muscle pattern to vocalise in the absence of structural or neurological pathologies. Over time, excessive muscle force and physical strain can lead to the development of benign lesions on the vocal cords, such as nodules.

  • Vocal cord paralysis

    Unilateral vocal cord paralysis usually occurs due to damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve, causing immobility of one of the vocal cords. Damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve can result from injuries during surgery, external trauma, infections, neurological diseases, or the development of tumors. In some cases, the cause of unilateral vocal cord paralysis is unknown.

  • Vascular lesions

    Vascular lesions are enlarged blood vessels on the vocal cords, caused by vocally traumatic behaviors. Symptoms of vocal issues often appear suddenly.

  • Granuloma

    A granuloma is a benign inflammatory mass that forms as a result of damage or irritation to one or both vocal cords. Granuloma formation has been linked to factors such as gastroesophageal reflux, intubation, and traumatic vocal behaviors.

  • Sulcus

    Vocal sulcus is a congenital lesion described as a groove on the free margin of the vocal cord. It can vary in depth and position, and it causes increased fragility of the vocal cord during phonation.

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