Many medical conditions can lead to voice problems. If you become hoarse frequently or notice voice changes for an extended period, Dr. Leeman will evaluate your symptoms to determine the cause and a treatment plan. Some of the most common voice problems are outlined below.
Acute laryngitis is the most common cause of hoarseness and loss of voice. Most cases of acute laryngitis are caused by a viral infection that leads to swelling of the vocal cords. When the vocal cords swell they vibrate differently, leading to hoarseness. Serious injury to the vocal cords can result from strenuous voice use during an episode of acute laryngitis, so it is best to rest your voice. Since most acute laryngitis is caused by a virus, antibiotics are not effective. Bacterial infections of the larynx are much more rare and often are associated with difficulty breathing. Any time you have trouble breathing during an illness, contact your physician.
Chronic laryngitis is a non-specific term and an underlying cause should be identified. Chronic laryngitis can be caused by acid reflux disease, by exposure to irritating substances such as smoke, and by low grade infections such as yeast infections of the vocal cords in people using inhalers for asthma. Chemotherapy patients or others whose immune systems are not working well can get these infections too.
Reflux of stomach acid into the throat can cause a variety of symptoms in the esophagus as well as in the throat. Hoarseness (chronic or intermittent), swallowing problems, a lump in the throat sensation, or throat pain are common symptoms of stomach acid irritation of the throat. Please be aware that LPRD can occur without any symptoms of heartburn and regurgitation that traditionally accompany gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Speaking is a physical task that requires coordination of breathing with the use of several muscle groups. It should come as no surprise that, just like in any other physical task, there are efficient and inefficient ways of using your voice. Excessively loud, prolonged, and/or inefficient voice use can lead to vocal difficulties, just like improper lifting can lead to back injuries. Excessive tension in the neck and laryngeal muscles, along with poor breathing technique during speech, leads to vocal fatigue, increased vocal effort, and hoarseness. Voice misuse and overuse puts you at risk for developing benign vocal cord lesions or a vocal cord hemorrhage.
Benign non-cancerous growths on the vocal cords are most often caused by voice misuse or overuse, which causes trauma to the vocal cords. These lesions on the vocal cord(s) alter vocal cord vibration and lead to hoarseness. The most common vocal cord lesions are nodules, polyps, and cysts. Vocal nodules, sometimes referred to as nodes or singer’s nodes, are similar to calluses on the vocal cords. They occur on both vocal cords opposite each other at the point of maximal wear and tear, and are usually treated with voice therapy to eliminate the vocal trauma that is causing them. Vocal cord polyps and cysts are the other common benign lesions. These are sometimes related to voice misuse or overuse, but not always. These types of problems typically require microsurgical treatment, with voice therapy employed in a combined treatment approach in some cases.
If you experience sudden loss of voice following yelling, shouting, or other strenuous vocal tasks, you may have developed a vocal cord hemorrhage. Vocal cord hemorrhage results when one of the blood vessels on the surface of the vocal cord ruptures and the soft tissues of the vocal cord fill with blood. It is considered a vocal emergency and is treated with absolute voice rest until the hemorrhage resolves. If you lose your voice after strenuous voice use, see Dr. Leeman as soon as possible.
Hoarseness and other problems can occur related to problems between the nerves and muscles within the voice box or larynx. The most common neurological condition that affects the larynx is a paralysis or weakness of one or both vocal cords. Involvement of both vocal cords is rare and is usually manifested by noisy breathing or difficulty getting enough air while breathing or talking. When one vocal cord is paralyzed or weak, voice is usually the problem rather than breathing. One vocal cord can become paralyzed or weakened (paresis) from a viral infection of the throat, after surgery in the neck or chest, from a tumor or growth along the laryngeal nerves, or for unknown reasons. Vocal cord paralysis typically presents with a soft and breathy voice. Many cases of vocal cord paralysis will recover within several months.
In some cases however, the paralysis will be permanent, and may require active treatment to improve the voice. Dr. Leeman will choose a treatment method based on the nature of the vocal cord paralysis, the degree of vocal impairment and the patient’s vocal needs. While we are not able to make paralyzed vocal cords move again, there are good treatment options for improving the voice. One option includes surgery for unilateral vocal cord paralysis that repositions the vocal cord to improve contact and vibration of the paralyzed vocal cord with the non-paralyzed vocal cord. There are a variety of surgical techniques used to accomplish this. Voice therapy may be used before or after surgical treatment of the paralyzed vocal cords, or it can also be used as the sole treatment.
Throat cancer is a very serious condition requiring immediate medical attention. Chronic hoarseness warrants evaluation by Dr. Leeman to rule out laryngeal cancer.
It is important to remember that prompt attention to changes in the voice facilitates early diagnosis. Remember to listen to your voice because it might be telling you something. Laryngeal cancer is highly curable if diagnosed in its early stages.
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