Dysphonia refers an alteration in normal voice quality which can be due to structural or functional causes.
What Is a Voice Disorder?
Any condition or change in the voice that causes an alteration in the function of the larynx (voicebox) and/or vocal folds. It is recommended to see a medical professional if you have experienced a voice change that lasts longer than two weeks and/or you have experienced a sudden voice change or onset of pain not related to acute illness/upper respiratory infection.
Hoarseness is the main symptom of voice disorders, but there can be many others, including:
- Vocal strain and effort
- Throat clearing and coughing
- Globus sensation
- Vocal fatigue
- Reduced vocal stamina/endurance
- Reduced vocal range
- Pitch/voice breaks
- Loss of vocal control
- Reduced respiratory support for voice
- Challenges projecting the voice
- Tightness in the throat (or face/head/neck region)
- Odynophonia/pain with voicing
Often the “problem” is laryngeal (within the larynx/voicebox), but it is important to remember that the subsystems of voice (respiration, phonation, resonance, articulation) all interact and can influence the function of another. If any subsystem has a “problem”, the others will compensate—causing a “glitch” in the whole system/vocal mechanism.
Common Voice Disorders:
- Vocal fold nodules
- Vocal fold edema (swelling)
- Vocal fold polyps
- Vocal fold cysts
- Reinke’s edema
- Vocal fold hemorrhage
- Reflux-related changes
- Vocal fold scar
- Vocal fold atrophy/presbyphonia
- Vocal fold paralysis
- Vocal fold paresis
- Granulomas
- Laryngitis
- Muscle tension dysphonia
- Aphonia
- Laryngeal dystonia/spasmodic dysphonia (adductor, abductor and/or mixed)
- Vocal tremor
- Leukoplakia
- Dysplasia
- Vocal fold papilloma
- Vocal fold or laryngeal cancer
Diagnosing Voice Disorders
If you are experiencing symptoms of voice disorders, our team will use videostroboscopy to determine the mobility and vibratory function of the vocal folds and the overall health of the larynx. Next, we will complete a voice evaluation, which includes:
- A behavioral assessment of voice
- An acoustic and aerodynamic assessment
- A manual exam
If you have already had a laryngoscopy (“quick scope,” to rule out any overt abnormalities), it’s essential to also have a videostroboscopy if you have voice complaints. It has been found that roughly half (~47.9%) of diagnoses are altered after videostroboscopy is performed, if the first exam is laryngoscopy (Cohen et al., 2015).
Treating Voice Disorders
Our team will provide relevant voice therapy to address the goals determined from the assessment.
However, our main job is to work with you to determine the most optimal goals to help your voice-related quality of life.
Aside from those people who have voice-related complaints, who else could benefit from voice-related services? “Any individual who places great demands upon their voice and whose livelihood is dependent upon a functioning voice” (Stemple, 2000) is a professional voice user, and “occupational voicing percentage per hour is more than twice that of non-occupational voicing” (Hunter & Titze, 2010). Therefore, if you use your voice for your job, you are at higher risk for voice-related challenges than someone else. We are here to help!
For more information or to schedule an appointment with our speech pathology team, please call Roxanna Musko, AOC speech pathology assistant at: (602) 476-5004.