🗣️ Vocal Cord Issues
The vocal cords (vocal folds) are two bands of muscle tissue in the larynx that vibrate to produce sound. Problems with the vocal cords can affect your voice, breathing, and swallowing.
🔹 Common Vocal Cord Issues
- Vocal Cord Nodules and Polyps
- Benign growths caused by vocal strain or overuse (e.g., shouting, singing)
- Nodules are usually bilateral (on both cords), polyps are often unilateral
- Symptoms: Hoarseness, breathy voice, vocal fatigue
- Vocal Cord Paralysis or Paresis
- Partial or complete loss of movement of one or both vocal cords
- Causes: Nerve injury (surgery, trauma), viral infections, tumors, neurological diseases
- Symptoms: Hoarseness, weak voice, difficulty swallowing, breathing problems
- Reinke’s Edema
- Swelling of the vocal cords due to fluid accumulation, often linked to smoking or vocal abuse
- Symptoms: Deep, husky voice, airway obstruction in severe cases
- Laryngitis (Acute or Chronic)
- Inflammation of the vocal cords, often due to infection, irritants, or vocal strain
- Symptoms: Hoarseness, voice loss, sore throat
- Vocal Cord Cysts
- Fluid-filled sacs on the vocal cords, usually from blockage of glands
- Symptoms: Hoarseness, rough or breathy voice
- Vocal Cord Granulomas
- Inflammatory lesions caused by irritation (e.g., intubation trauma, acid reflux)
- Symptoms: Hoarseness, throat discomfort
- Spasmodic Dysphonia
- A neurological disorder causing involuntary spasms of the vocal cords
- Symptoms: Breaks or strangled quality in voice
- Vocal Cord Cancer
- Malignant tumors affecting the vocal cords, often related to smoking or alcohol
- Symptoms: Persistent hoarseness, throat pain, difficulty swallowing
🩺 Symptoms of Vocal Cord Problems:
- Hoarseness or change in voice quality
- Loss of voice or weak voice
- Difficulty speaking or vocal fatigue
- Throat pain or discomfort
- Breathing difficulties (in severe swelling or paralysis)
- Feeling of a lump in the throat
🔍 Diagnosis:
- Laryngoscopy or stroboscopy: Visualize vocal cords and their movement
- Voice assessment by speech-language pathologists
- Imaging (CT, MRI) if tumors or nerve issues are suspected
- Biopsy if cancer is suspected
💊 Treatment:
- Voice rest and vocal hygiene
- Speech therapy for voice rehabilitation
- Medications: Steroids, proton pump inhibitors (for reflux), antibiotics (if infection)
- Surgery: Removal of nodules, polyps, cysts, or tumors; vocal cord medialization for paralysis
- Botulinum toxin injections for spasmodic dysphonia
- Management of underlying causes (e.g., reflux, smoking cessation)
🧠 Key Points:
- Most vocal cord issues cause hoarseness or voice changes.
- Early evaluation is important if hoarseness lasts more than 2-3 weeks.
- Many conditions improve with voice therapy and lifestyle changes.
- Some require medical or surgical intervention.