Voice disorders are disorders of pitch, loudness and quality. Voice disorders may be functional or organic Functional voice disorders-the voice disorders that does not have any organic cause. Ex. Vocal polyps, vocal nodules, psychogenic dysphonia, etc. Organic voice disorders- the voice disorders that have a organic cause.Ex. laryngeal cancer, laryngitis, etc
Symptoms-
Breathy voice
Harsh voice
Hoarseness
Inappropriate pitch
Inappropriate loudness
Whispering
Aphonia
Strained voice, etc
Causes-
Neck trauma
Swelling of vocal cords
Excessive yelling and shouting
Infections
Excessive throat clearing
Throat cancer
Vocal abuse or misuse
Alcohol consumption
Upper respiratory infection
Stress or depression
Emotional trauma
Smoking, etc.
Treatment- Voice therapy A non surgical treatment for voice disorders.voice therapy includes exercises which helps in producing our best voice. Who provides voice therapy- Speech therapist or voice therapist A professionalist who has master’s or bachelor’s degree in audiology and speech language pathology.