Understanding Voice Disorders
Comprehensive information about voice disorders, their types, symptoms, and treatment options to help you better understand your voice journey.
What Are Voice Disorders?
Voice disorders affect how your voice sounds when you speak. They can make your voice sound hoarse, breathy, strained, or cause it to crack or break. Voice disorders can affect people of all ages and can range from mild to severe.
Your voice is produced when air flows from your lungs through your vocal cords in your larynx (voice box). Voice disorders occur when there are problems with vocal cord vibration, airflow, or muscle control.
Important Note
If you're experiencing persistent voice changes lasting more than two weeks, it's important to consult with a healthcare professional or speech-language pathologist for proper evaluation and diagnosis.
Types of Voice Disorders
A neurological voice disorder that causes involuntary spasms of the vocal cords during speech. It can make the voice sound strained, strangled, or breathy.
Types:
- Adductor SD: Voice sounds strained or strangled
- Abductor SD: Voice sounds breathy or weak
- Mixed SD: Combination of both types
Common treatments: Botulinum toxin injections, voice therapy, surgical options
Occurs when one or both vocal cords cannot move properly due to nerve damage. This can result from surgery, injury, stroke, or other medical conditions.
Symptoms may include:
- Breathy or weak voice
- Difficulty swallowing
- Shortness of breath while speaking
- Loss of vocal pitch range
Common treatments: Voice therapy, surgical procedures like medialization, nerve reinnervation
A neurological condition causing involuntary muscle contractions in the larynx, affecting voice production and sometimes breathing.
May affect:
- Voice quality and pitch
- Muscle tension in neck and throat
- Breathing during speech
Common treatments: Botulinum toxin injections, medications, voice therapy
Benign growths on the vocal cords caused by vocal trauma or overuse. Common in people who use their voice professionally.
Symptoms:
- Hoarseness
- Vocal fatigue
- Reduced vocal range
- Throat discomfort
Common treatments: Voice rest, voice therapy, surgical removal if necessary
A neurological condition that causes rhythmic shaking of the voice, often described as a "quavering" or "tremulous" voice.
Characteristics:
- Voice tremor that may worsen with stress
- May affect sustained vowels more than connected speech
- Often hereditary
Common treatments: Medications, botulinum toxin injections, voice therapy
Caused by excessive muscle tension in and around the voice box, often related to stress, vocal overuse, or compensatory behaviors.
Symptoms:
- Strained or effortful voice
- Vocal fatigue
- Throat discomfort or pain
- Reduced vocal endurance
Common treatments: Voice therapy, relaxation techniques, addressing underlying causes
Myths vs Facts
Common Myths
Myth: Voice disorders are caused by overuse
While overuse can contribute to some voice problems, many voice disorders are neurological or have other medical causes unrelated to voice use.
Myth: Voice therapy is just vocal exercises
Voice therapy is a comprehensive treatment approach that may include breathing techniques, posture work, lifestyle modifications, and psychological support.
Myth: People with voice disorders can't have normal careers
Many people with voice disorders continue to have successful careers with proper treatment, accommodations, and support.
The Facts
Fact: Voice disorders have many different causes
Causes can include neurological conditions, structural abnormalities, vocal trauma, medical conditions, or unknown factors.
Fact: Early diagnosis and treatment improve outcomes
The sooner a voice disorder is properly diagnosed and treated, the better the potential for improved voice function and quality of life.
Fact: Voice disorders affect people of all ages
From children to seniors, voice disorders can affect anyone. Each age group may face different types and challenges.
Getting Help
If you're experiencing voice changes or have been diagnosed with a voice disorder, you don't have to face it alone.