Frequently Asked Questions About Voice Disorders:
1. In general, how many types of disorders can be mentioned when referring to vocal cord disorders?
It is possible to examine vocal cord disorders under two main headings: organic, meaning structural, and functional, meaning related to function. Laryngitis, cysts, polyps, and vocal cord paralysis can be given as examples of structural disorders, and medications or surgical interventions are mostly applied in treatment. Functional disorders are caused by psychological reasons and require psychiatric consultation or professional voice therapy. You can contact us to obtain information about questions related to the voice.
2. Which disorders are most commonly seen in the vocal cords?
The most common disorder of the vocal cords is laryngitis, meaning inflammation of the larynx, accompanying the common cold. It is generally short-term, and recovery occurs within days without leaving any problems or sequelae.
3. What are the causes of the main disorders that occur in the vocal cords?
The most common cause of long-term disorders seen in the vocal cords is excessive and improper use of the vocal cords. Vocal cord polyps and cysts can easily develop when the vocal cords are strained during inflammation of the larynx. Vocal cord nodules may also occur due to prolonged strain on the vocal cords even without inflammation.
4. What kind of symptoms do vocal cord diseases present with?
For example, does it cause a difference in the tone of the voice, and what problems should a person suspect? The most prominent feature of voice disorders is deterioration in voice quality and performance. Voice cracking, deepening of the voice, the voice becoming husky, and being unable to speak or sing for as long as before are the most common complaints expressed by patients. In addition, problems not directly related to the voice, such as a feeling of a lump in the throat, throat burning, a frequent need to clear the throat, and a persistent dry cough, may also accompany long-term voice disorders and may even be the main reason the patient consults a doctor.
5. How common is hoarseness in society, and it is a condition that people do not pay much attention to. Do you agree?
Voice disorders affect approximately 5% of society, and teachers make up around 16% and artists around 5% of those with voice disorders. People with voice disorders do not pay attention to their voice problems unless they experience difficulties in their professional lives or their quality of life deteriorates. In addition, a lack of knowledge and concerns about the treatment of voice diseases also cause people to act negligently.
6. What is the difference between a vocal cord nodule and a polyp?
Vocal cord nodules are thickenings of the vocal cords that occur with prolonged and improper voice use; they are a kind of callus formation on the vocal cords. They are more commonly seen in women and in teachers and singers who use their voices extensively due to their professions. They disappear by learning proper voice use through voice therapy. In persistent cases, they must be removed with endoscopic microsurgery applied to the vocal cords, and voice therapy must definitely be performed after surgery to prevent recurrence.
Polyps, on the other hand, generally present with persistent hoarseness that continues after a common cold. They are unilateral mucosal thickenings on the vocal cords and are resistant to voice therapy. The preferred treatment method is endoscopic microsurgery. Voice therapy is not essential after surgery, and recurrence is rare.
7. It is said that cyst formation on the vocal cord may be congenital. Is this true?
Although congenital cystic formations may occur anywhere in the larynx, vocal cord cysts mostly develop later, and the common cold is generally the reason for their occurrence. Endoscopic microsurgery is recommended to improve the voice disorder.
8. Are voice disorders seen only in people who use their voices, such as singers and teachers, and if someone does not use their voice excessively, what is the reason for their occurrence?
Voice disorders are more common in those who use their voices intensively due to their profession, and when they occur, the discomfort they cause the patient is also more pronounced because they interfere with professional life. Nevertheless, voice disorders may also occur in people who do not use their voices intensively. Disorders such as polyps, cysts, and chronic inflammation of the larynx may also be seen in people who do not use their voices intensively, while Reinke’s edema is more common in women, and smoking is the most important factor.
9. What are the other causes that impair the voice?
The most important factor in voice quality is undoubtedly the integrity of the structures involved in voice production. The lungs, larynx, and structures inside the mouth must be healthy. Problems in these structures may also cause voice and speech disorders. In addition, factors that cause irritation and inflammation of the vocal cords may also lead to deterioration in voice quality. Climatic conditions, the air quality of the environment, and chemicals exposed to in the workplace may cause irritation of the vocal cords. The problem of reflux, whose importance has been understood in recent years, may also cause problems in the larynx and voice. Stomach acid reaching the larynx through reflux makes the vocal cords more sensitive through chemical irritation, and since reflux is generally a long-term disorder, chronic changes may occur in the larynx. People with voice disorders frequently require examinations and treatment for reflux.
10. When considered, are voice disorders more commonly seen in women or men?
Although voice disorders are seen in both sexes, there are voice disorders that are more common according to sex. Nodules, Reinke’s edema, and hyperfunctional voice disorder are more common in women, while hypofunctional voice disorder and contact granuloma are typically seen in men. Cysts, polyps, and vocal cord paralysis are seen in both sexes.
11. It is a known fact that the voice may become impaired during certain periods even if the person has no disorder, such as during women’s menstrual periods. What else can be counted among these?
One of the most important factors affecting voice production and quality is personality structure and mood. Joy, sadness, stress, and anxiety may cause the voice to change even within seconds, and they may also have long-term effects on the voice. In addition, general health status and physical condition may also affect the voice.
12. Is surgical intervention generally used for voice disorders?
Can you provide information about treatment and voice exercises? Treatment for voice disorders is planned according to the cause. In voice disorders caused by cysts, polyps, and chronic Reinke’s edema, the chance of success with medications or voice therapy is low. Treatment is possible in a short time with endoscopically applied microsurgical methods, and the chance of success is high. Voice therapy is primarily applied in functional voice disorders and nodules that develop as a result of them. Voice therapy is applied to ensure that the structures contributing to voice production work appropriately and economically. Correct breathing and relaxation techniques and exercises to strengthen the vocal cords are taught to the patient through exercises. The success of the treatment depends on the patient performing these exercises regularly and applying them in daily life. Surgical methods may be considered in voice disorders caused by nodules or vocal cord paralysis in which sufficient improvement cannot be achieved with voice therapy.
13. What should a person do to take good care of their voice?
Those who use their voices intensively due to their profession especially need to protect their voices well. Excessive strain on the vocal cords should be avoided, such as speaking loudly and speaking in noisy environments. A microphone should be used during presentations if possible, and calling out from one room to another should be avoided. Long telephone conversations should be avoided, and the receiver should be held in the hand to prevent tension in the neck muscles. Using the voice during a common cold and psychological tension should be avoided. Since cigarette smoke causes dryness and irritation of the vocal cords, professional voice users should stay away from cigarettes and cigarette smoke. Water and humidity are very important for the vocal cords; plenty of water should be consumed, and the humidity level of the environment should be kept high. When singing, low and high notes should be reached after warming up the voice. If hoarseness develops and lasts longer than two weeks, an ENT specialist must be consulted.
14. What may be the consequences of not treating voice diseases?
Short-term voice disorders are generally seen in upper respiratory tract inflammations, and if care is taken, complete recovery without sequelae occurs and they do not cause many problems. Long-term hoarseness, regardless of its cause, creates a vicious cycle, and the severity of the disorder tends to increase, thus causing difficulties in professional and private life. As a result, situations such as difficulty or even inability to perform one’s profession and limitations in private life are frequently encountered. In cases where no diagnosis is made, malignant disorders may be overlooked. Therefore, when hoarseness lasts longer than two weeks, an ENT specialist should be consulted to establish a diagnosis, and treatment should be started as soon as possible.
15. Can you provide information about voice deepening or voice feminization surgeries?
Is it a difficult operation, who is it mostly performed on, can it be applied to anyone who wants it, and what should be taken into consideration? In voice deepening caused by an increase in mass on the vocal cords, such as Reinke’s edema, polyps, or cysts, the voice regains its normal pitch through endoscopic microsurgery, and the chance of success is high. In high-pitched male voices that persist after puberty, the voice returns to the normal depth of a male voice with voice therapy. Apart from these, surgeries to feminize or deepen the voice are more complicated and are preferably performed to alter voice depth after gender reassignment. Conventional surgical methods may also be applied alongside endoscopic intervention.
16. Do people whose profession is singing need to have their voices checked periodically?
Singers should maintain the condition of their vocal cords at a high level, like professional athletes. For this purpose, the rules of vocal hygiene should be followed strictly, daily voice exercises should be performed, and situations that may harm the voice and vocal cords should be avoided. In addition, even in the slightest problem, an ENT specialist should be consulted, and both the vocal cords and hearing should be evaluated.
17. Is it possible to restore the damaged voice of a singer?
If the problem in the vocal cords is caused by nodules, polyps, or cysts, it is possible for the voice to return to its previous condition through surgery. Sometimes singers may also need to receive voice therapy, and there are even situations in which psychological support and counseling are recommended. The treatment of voice problems caused by chronic inflammation of the larynx is more demanding, and success can be achieved with regular and intensive treatment. However, the most important point is that singers need to protect their voices very well and make an effort not to cause voice disease.
