Voice Disorders
What are voice disorders
A voice disorder occurs when voice quality, pitch, and loudness differ or are inappropriate for an individual’s age, gender, cultural background, or geographic location 1). A voice disorder is present when an individual expresses concern about having an abnormal voice that does not meet daily needs—even if others do not perceive it as different or deviant 2).
Voice disorders occur with a change in the voice, often described as hoarseness, roughness, or a raspy quality. People with voice disorders often complain about or notice changes in pitch, loss of voice, loss of endurance, and sometimes a sharp or dull pain associated with voice use. Other voice disorders may accompany a change in singing ability that is most notable in the upper singing range. A more serious problem is indicated by spitting up blood or when blood is present in the mucus. These require prompt attention by an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist).
Psychogenic voice disorders causes
- Chronic stress disorders
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Conversion reaction (e.g., conversion aphonia and dysphonia)
The complementary relationships among these organic, functional, and psychogenic influences ensure that many voice disorders will have contributions from more than one etiologic factor 17).
Recognizing associations among these factors, along with patient history, may help in identifying the possible causes of the voice disorder. Even when an obvious cause is identified and treated, the voice problem may persist. For example, an upper respiratory infection could be the cause of the dysphonia, but poor or inefficient compensatory techniques may cause dysphonia to persist, even when the infection has been successfully treated.
At Al Hawas Rehabilitation Of Hearing & Speech Center of Excellence for Voice Medicine in UAE and Sharjah, treats all forms of voice disorders.
These educational presentations are intended to describe in greater detail those voice disorders that are treated or surgically managed on a regular basis and thereby reflect the routine work of Al Hawas Rehabilitation Of Hearing & Speech Center.
