Voice Disorders
Voice disorders are medical conditions that affect the production of speech. Voice disorders are commonly caused by vocal abuse or overuse, infection, disease, acid reflux, age, trauma, chemical exposure, cancer or a neurological pathology.
Common voice disorders include:
- Abnormalities in pitch: to high or too low
- warbling pitch or intermittent breaks in pitch (festus voice)
- Vocal quality: hoarseness, breathiness, tightness or harshness
- Loudness: too quiet or too breathy
- Resonance decreased by nasal congestion
Common symptoms of voice disorders:
- Hoarseness, harshness, or breathiness continuing for more than 3 weeks
- "Tired" or "strained" voice after prolonged talking
- Recurring loss of voice
- Trouble projecting your voice
Self-care for vocal hoarseness:
If persistent or progressive hoarseness does not go away with self-care methods please consult Riverside ENT.
- Do not use your voice to clear your throat, instead cough and then swallow water
- Avoid caffeinated, alcoholic and carbonated beverages
- Supplement extra fluids when using caffeinated beverages
- Drink 2 to 3 liters of fluids over the course of the day
- Use medications or therapy to control allergy and asthma symptoms
- Eat smaller portions for meals, more frequently during the day
- Do not eat or drink within 3 hours of bedtime
- Incline your bed with the head side higher
- If suffering from acid reflux avoid laying flat on your back
Voice disorder treatment options:
Riverside ENT offers a Minimally invasive technique for treating common voice disorders known as Flexible Endoscopy and Stroboscopy of the larynx. This technique is performed comfortably in our offices in conjunction with our speech pathology staff for comprehensive study of the voice.
More accurate treatment plans can be developed with the help of the endoscopy. A Flexible Endoscopy of the larynx utilizes a stroboscope to look at the patient's vocal use patterns to find specific causes of hoarseness. The stroboscope is used to assess the vocal cords in "slow motion" so that smaller and more subtle changes of the vocal cords can be detected.
To schedule a consultation, call Riverside ENT / Hearing and Balance at 815-932-2541 or fill out our appointment request form.
Riverside ENT/Hearing and Balance
Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m
300 Riverside Drive, Suite 2100
Bourbonnais, IL 60914
