Voice Disorders

Question 1

Voice through the Lifespan

Answer 1

Voice changes throughout a person’s lifespan
Infant uses voice to express pain, hunger, or displeasure
As the child matures he uses voice for production of speech sounds, and to express ideas and moods
Adult voice is achieved by age 18 years of age
At age 60 the voice begins to decline ability to control pitch and loudness declines
Females pitch lowers with age, while males pitch increases

Question 2

Pitch

Answer 2

The highs and lows of voice
Determined by the speed of the vocal folds
Speed at which the vocal folds moves is called fundamental frequency
Measured in hertz (Hz) or the number of vibrations per second
Each of us has an average fundamental frequency called habitual pitch
Adult male = 130 Hz (vocal folds open/close 130 times per second
Adult female= 250 Hz
Average child = 500 Hz

Question 3

Vocal Intensity (loudness)

Answer 3

Measured in decibels (dB)
Normal conversation is approximately 60 dB
Changes in loudness come from air pressure coming up from the lungs

Question 4

Voice

Answer 4

Normal voice requires:
Voice quality, Pitch, Loudness, Flexibility that is pleasing and audible to the listener

Disordered voice involves:
deviations of any or all of the above that may signify illness and/or interfere with communication
Most voice disorders in children are the result of misuse and abuse and are often temporary. In adults the cause can vary.

Question 5

Key voice terms

Answer 5

Edema = swollen vocal folds; mostly due to laryngitis
Aphonia = complete loss of voice
Harsh voice = too much tension
Breathy voice = voice produced like a partial whisper
Hoarse = both harsh and breathy

Question 6

VOCAL FOLD ABNORMALITIES – CAUSED BY ABUSE

Answer 6

Acute and chronic laryngitis
Inflammation of the vocal folds – temporary swelling of the vocal folds
Caused by:
Tobacco
Alcohol
Smoking
Allergies
Vocal abuse e.g screaming at a sporting event

Question 7

vocal nodules

Answer 7

Sometimes called “screamers nodules”
Mainly caused by abuse to the vocal folds
Screaming, shouting
Throat clearing
Coughing
Tend to develop over time
When first develop they may be soft, but become hard , much like a callous

Question 8

Vocal polyps

Answer 8

Usually caused by trauma – mostly a one-time event
Develop when blood vessels in the vocal folds swell and rupture
Fluid filled
Much like a blister
Prone to hemorrhage (bleeding)

Question 9

Contact ulcers

Answer 9

Reddened ulcers that develop on the back of the vocal cords
Can be painful with pain radiating to the ear
Caused by:
Frequent coughing
Frequent throat clearing
Reflux disease
Trauma from intubation

Question 10

Vocal fold cancer

Answer 10

Laryngectomy = surgical removal of the vocal folds
Typically due to cancer
Occasionally due to trauma
Breathe through a hole in their throat called a stoma

Question 11

Laryngectomy

Answer 11

Surgical removal of the larynx