Voice Disorders

Question 1

Nodules (characteristics, causes, symptoms)

Answer 1

• Bilateral, Red swellings >> hard, thick, fibrosed
• Cause = damage to basement membrane, due to mechanical stress of phonation
• Symptoms = hoarseness, breathiness, loss of pitch/loudness, fatigue
• Treatment = vocal therapy >> surgey >> therapy

Question 2

Polyps (characteristics, causes, symptoms)

Answer 2

• Unilateral
• Cause = Single episode of vocal misuse
• Prominent dilated blood vessel
• Symptoms = hoarseness, roughness, breathiness, “something in throat”
• Treatment (large) = surgey

Question 3

Vocal Fold Hemorrhage (characteristics, causes, symptoms)

Answer 3

• Unilateral, ruptured blood vessel in vocal folds
• Cause = single episode of vocal trauma
• Symptoms = vocal fatigue, pain, hoarseness, loss of upper range of F0
• Treatment =

Question 4

Reinke’s Edema (characteristics, causes, symptoms)

Answer 4

• Swelling / fluid build-up along superficial layer of lamina propria
• Cause = phonotrauma, vocal misuse, smoking
• Symptoms = Hoarse voice, lower than normal F0
• Treatment =

Question 5

Spasmodic Dysphonia (characteristics, causes, symptoms)

Answer 5

• Excessive movements affecting motor control during speech
• Symptoms = Strained and strangulated voice, Intermittent stoppages, Excessive tension
• Cause =
• Treatment =

Question 6

Laryngeal Web (characteristics, causes, symptoms)

Answer 6

• Cause = congenital or due to trauma
• Sheet of tissue (anterior > posterior) portion of vocal folds
• Symptoms = difficulty breathing, stridor

Question 7

Laryngitis (characteristics, causes, symptoms)

Answer 7

Acute/chronic inflammatory reaction of vocal folds

Symptoms = redness, pain, swelling, aphonia

Cause = tobacco, LPR, dust, allergens, infection

Question 8

Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR) (characteristics, causes, symptoms)

Answer 8

Cause = acid into larynx

Symptoms = redness, irritation, hoarseness

Treatment = behavioral/pharmaceutical first, then surgey

Question 9

Systemic Changes

Answer 9

Allergies

• Managed with antihistamines = drying effect

Sinusitis

• Postnasal discharge, phlegm, throat clearing

Pharmacological Agents

• Mucosal drying

Hormonal Changes

• Menstrual cucles, oral contraceptives, disturbed thyroid function, fluid in lamina propria