voice disorders

VOICEPROBLEM.ORGthevoiceproblemwebsiteWvoicedisorderslaryngitisLaryngitis:HighlightsBodypart+-itismeansinflammationofthatpartLaryngitis=larynx+itis=inflammationofthelarynxInflammation:BodyResponsetoInjuryInflammationisthebody'swayofhealingitselfinresponsetoinjuryfromanyofanumberofcauses.Inflammationisusuallycharacterizedbyswellingoftheinjuredsite(edema),redness(erythema),andpaininthearea.Usually,oncethecauseoftheinjuryisremoved,theinflammationsubsideswhenhealingoftheinjuredareaiscomplete.However,repeatedinjurythatcauseschronicinflammationcanresultinothertypesofinjuryandinjuryresponse,preventingcompletehealing.Laryngitis:GeneralTermMeaningInflammationoftheLarynxLaryngitis,orinflammationofthelarynx,canhavemanycauses.Assuch,acorrectdiagnosisoflaryngitisshouldalwaysindicatethecause.Forexample:Virallaryngitis:InflammationfromaviralinfectionRefluxlaryngitis:Inflammationfrombackflowofstomachfluids(reflux)tothethroatandvoiceboxAcuteandChronicLaryngitisLaryngitisthatisshortlivedisclassifiedasacutelaryngitis.Laryngitisthatlastslongerthantwotofourweeksisclassifiedaschroniclaryngitis.LocationofInflammationDependsonCauseThelocationofinflammationinthelarynxusuallydependsontheareainjuredbyexposuretoanirritantorinjuringagent.Forexample:Ifthelarynxisexposedtosmoke,allergens,orenvironmentalpollutants,thenthelaryngitiswillinvolvetheentirelarynx.Iflaryngitisisduetobackflowofstomachfluids(laryngopharyngealreflux),theninflammationmaybepresentonlyinthebacksideofthelarynx.UnderstandingLaryngitisWhatislaryngitis?InflammationoftheLarynxLaryngitisisdiffuse(widespread)orlocalinflammationofthevoicebox(larynx)inresponsetochronicoracuteirritationcausedbymechanical,chemical,allergic,orinfectiousagents.Thisirritationusuallyresultsinredness(erythema)andswelling(edema)ofanypartofthelarynx,andiscommonlylabeledlaryngitis.Usually,thelaryngitis(rednessandswelling)willresolvewhentheirritantsareremovedfromcontactwiththelarynx.TwoMainTypesofLaryngitisTypeDeterminedbyHowLongInflammationLastsAcutelaryngitis:Short-livedinflammationofthelarynxChroniclaryngitis:ProlongedinflammationofthelarynxAcuteLaryngitisIfthecontactwiththeirritantissuddenandshort-lived,thelaryngitiswilloccurabruptlyandwillimprovewhentheirritantisremoved.Commoncausesofacutelaryngitisinclude:Upperrespiratorytractinfectionfrombacteria,viruses,andsomefungiormoldsOther,lesscommon,causesofacutelaryngitisinclude:Exposuretohighlyconcentratedairpollutants(suchasspraypaints,ovencleaners,orothersolvents)Smokeinhalationduringaclosed-spacefireDeliberateinhalationofheatedfumes(suchaswithsmokingcrackcocaine)BluntorpenetratingtraumatothelarynxChronicLaryngitisWhentheexposuretotheirritantisprolonged,thelaryngitiswillremainaslongastheirritantispresentCommoncausesofchroniclaryngitisinclude:LaryngopharyngealrefluxAllergiesTobaccosmoking(cigarettesorcigars)MarijuanauseUseofinhaledsteroidsorotheroralinhalersSomefungalandbacterialinfectionsVoicemisuseorabuseChroniccoughLaryngitisresultswhenthelarynxisexposedtoanirritant.Someirritantscancausebothacuteandchroniclaryngitis;otherirritantscauseonlyonetypeoflaryngitis.TypeofLaryngitisCommonCausesofLaryngitisAcute(short-lived)Chronic(longerterm)InfectiousBacterialxViralxFungalxxContactRefluxxxPollutantsxxSmokingxInhaledMedicationsxCausticIngestionsxxMedicalVocalMisusexxVocalAbusexTraumaxxAllergicAllergiesxxDryness(LaryngitisSicca)DehydrationxxDryAtmospherexxMouthBreathingxxMedicationsxxThermalClosed-SpaceFirexxCrackPipexxSymptomsofLaryngitisWhatarethesymptomsoflaryngitis?Hoarseness:TheMostCommonPatientComplaintThemostcommonsymptomoflaryngitisishoarseness.Hoarsenessisusuallyaraspyorhuskysoundofthevoiceresultingfromswellingwithinthevocalfold.Swellinglimitsthenormalvibratorymovementofthevocalfoldduringphonation,whichcausesthesoundproducedtobelessharmonicandraspier.(Formoreinformation,seeAnatomy&PhysiologyofVoiceProduction.)SwellingCausestheTypicalLowVoiceInsomecases,swellingmaylimittheabilityofthevocalfoldstovibrateathigherspeeds(frequencies),whichareneededtoproducehigh-pitchedsounds.Thiscausesadecreaseinthepitchrangeandaffectshighnotesmoreseverely,thusresultinginalowvoice.SevereSwellingCausesLossofVoiceIfthereissignificantswellingofthevocalfolds,theymaynotbeabletovibrateatall,andnosoundoronlyawhisperisproduced.OtherSymptomsOthersymptomsoflaryngitisinclude:SorethroatDrythroatItchythroatSensationofsomethingstuckinthethroatDifficultybreathing(rare)Thesesymptomsarenotalwayspresentwhenlaryngitisoccurs.Theymayalsooccurassymptomsofproblemsotherthanlaryngitis.HowdoIknowifIhavelaryngitis?FirstSign:HoarsenessThedevelopmentofhoarsenessisusuallythefirstsignoflaryngitis.However,hoarsenesscanbeasignofothervoiceproblemsaswell.(Formoreinformation,seeOverviewofDiagnosis,Treatment&Prevention.)AvoidVoiceExertionWhenLaryngitisIsPresentThevoiceshouldnotbeusedexcessivelyduringlaryngitisintheabsenceofevaluationbyanear-nose-throat(ENT)specialist(otolaryngologist).Insomecasesoflaryngitis,excessivevoiceusecancausefurtherandirrevocableinjurytothevocalfolds,leadingtovocalfoldhemorrhage,vocal