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- Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know
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Voice Disorders
Summary
Voice is the sound made by air passing from your lungs through your larynx, or voice box. In your larynx are your vocal cords, two bands of muscle that vibrate to make sound. For most of us, our voices play a big part in who we are, what we do, and how we communicate. Like fingerprints, each person’s voice is unique.
Many things we do can injure our vocal cords. Talking too much, screaming, constantly clearing your throat, or smoking can make you hoarse. They can also lead to problems such as nodules, polyps, and sores on the vocal cords. Other causes of voice disorders include infections, upward movement of stomach acids into the throat, growths due to a virus, cancer, and diseases that paralyze the vocal cords.
Signs that your voice isn’t healthy include:
- Your voice has become hoarse or raspy
- You’ve lost the ability to hit some high notes when singing
- Your voice suddenly sounds deeper
- Your throat often feels raw, achy, or strained
- It’s become an effort to talk
Treatment for voice disorders varies depending on the cause. Most voice problems can be successfully treated when diagnosed early.
NIH: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Find an Expert
- American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
- Directory of Organizations (Deafness and Communication Disorders) National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
- Find an ENT American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Encyclopedia
- Botulinum toxin injection – larynx Medical Encyclopedia
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Laryngeal Diseases National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Laryngitis National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Vocal Cord Dysfunction National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Voice Disorders National Institutes of Health
Specifics
- Hoarseness National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
- Laryngitis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Laryngospasm: What Causes It? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis or Laryngeal Papillomatosis National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
- Spasmodic Dysphonia National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
- Vocal Cord Paralysis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Vocal Fold Paralysis National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
- What are Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD) and Inspiratory Laryngeal Obstruction (ILO)? American Thoracic Society
Patient Handouts
- Hoarseness Medical Encyclopedia
- Laryngeal nerve damage Medical Encyclopedia
- Laryngitis Medical Encyclopedia
- Laryngoscopy Medical Encyclopedia
- Spasmodic dysphonia Medical Encyclopedia
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Keep Your Voice Sound: How to Prevent and Avoid Voice Problems National Institutes of Health
- Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Voice American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
Diagnosis and Tests
- Laryngoscopy (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
- Laryngoscopy – series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia
Start Here
- Learn More about Your Voice American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
- Taking Care of Your Voice National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
- Voice, Speech, and Language National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Journal Articles
Statistics and Research
- Quick Statistics about Voice, Speech, and Language National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Related Issues
- Vocal Cord Dysfunction: Is it a Type of Asthma? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Children
- What’s an Adam’s Apple? (For Kids) Nemours Foundation