What is a voice disorder?
Voice disorders occur when the quality of your voice changes in some way. Your voice might get hoarse temporarily, or it might sound deeper or softer than another typical person of your age and gender. At Oasis Ear, Nose, and Throat, the team specializes in diagnosing voice disorders and providing treatment, if necessary.
Voice disorders are a broad category, but they fit into two main subcategories:
Organic voice disorders
Organic voice disorders happen because of the natural structure of your larynx or vocal fold tissues. They can also happen because of certain neurological conditions. In any case, there isn’t much you can do to prevent organic voice disorders.
Functional voice disorders
Functional voice disorders happen because of improper or excessive use of your voice. These include vocal fatigue and muscle tension dysphonia or aphonia.
What are the signs and symptoms of a voice disorder?
Dysphonia is a general term that refers to the many possible symptoms of vocal disorders, including abnormal pitch, loudness, vocal quality, or vocal effort. You may have one or many symptoms with your voice disorder. Common signs and symptoms of voice disorders are:
- Aphonia (loss of voice)
- Asthenia (weak voice)
- Hoarseness
- Breathiness
- Increased effort while speaking
- Tremulous or shaky voice
- Running out of breath while speaking
- High volume
- Low volume
- High pitch
- Low pitch
Treating your voice disorder might alleviate some of your symptoms, but other vocal symptoms may appear as you make an effort to compensate for your original symptoms.
To diagnose your voice disorder, the team at Oasis Ear, Nose, and Throat assesses your voice using a comprehensive assessment. They consider your medical history and lifestyle and might perform tests for certain conditions that can affect your voice.
Which treatments are available for voice disorder?
The Oasis Ear, Nose, and Throat team designs your voice disorder treatment plan according to the underlying cause of your voice disorder, its severity, and its effects on your day-to-day life.
For your treatment, the team might recommend some form of alteration to the structures that allow you to speak. These may include removing masses, growths, and other structural issues within your throat.
Another treatment option for voice disorders is voice therapy. There are several available approaches to voice therapy that aim to help you balance the factors contributing to the sound of your voice like respiration, phonation, and resonance.
If others tell you that your voice doesn’t sound normal and your symptoms don’t go away by resting your voice, call Oasis Ear, Nose, and Throat to request an appointment or schedule your visit online today.
