5 Early Signs of Voice Disorders You Should Never Ignore: When to Seek Voice Problem Treatment
Your voice is more than just an instrument for communication or expressing yourself – it’s your identity, which enables you to express yourself and connect with your near and dear ones. A clear and healthy voice also reflects your personal and professional well-being and confidence. Whether you are a singer, a teacher, a radio jockey, or a public speaker, your voice plays a crucial role in your daily performance.
However, when your voice starts acting differently, it is concerning, particularly for vocal professionals. If the problem persists for a few days, it may not be a simple “minor throat irritation due to voice overstraining” issue. There may be a serious underlying voice problem that needs urgent attention. It’s important to identify the early symptoms of voice disorder to seek prompt voice problem treatment from a professional, thus preventing further complications.
5 Signs and Symptoms of Voice Problems
Here are the five common voice problem symptoms and red flags.
Hoarse or Raspy Voice
If you are experiencing hoarseness or raspiness in your vocal quality, it may be an indication that your vocal cords are swollen. Common causes of a hoarse or raspy voice include a sore throat or a bad cough. However, if your hoarseness or raspiness occurs without an illness, it may be caused by vocal cord misuse or paralysis.
To prevent hoarseness, avoid smoking, alcohol consumption, or the intake of spicy foods. Avoid yelling or speaking too loudly. Rest your vocal cords in between long periods of speaking or singing and stay hydrated. A professional speech therapist for voice problems will guide you on healthy vocal use to prevent hoarseness. If the symptoms persist for two weeks or more, a tailored voice therapy program may improve the condition.
Voice Fatigue
Vocal fatigue is a common issue among voice professionals, like singers, professors, or public speakers, who use their voice a lot. Overstraining of our vocal muscles may result in long-term voice damage. Joining a voice therapy program and maintaining consistency with vocal exercises may improve symptoms and reduce damage to a significant extent.
Loss of Vocal Range
Reduced or loss of vocal range occurs when an individual faces difficulty reaching certain notes while modulating their voice during speech or while singing. Reduced vocal range may result from vocal cord swelling, voice strain, or some underlying condition. Voice therapy is highly effective in restoring vocal flexibility and control.
Pain or Discomfort During Speech
Experiencing feelings of pain or discomfort while speaking may be linked with muscle tension dysphonia, which is usually a result of vocal muscle misuse or voice overstraining. Muscle tension dysphonia may also arise from vocal nodules or vocal polyps, allergies, or other illnesses. Voice therapists identify the triggers that may have affected your voice and determine the best vocal cord treatment, such as medications or surgery.
Abnormal Pitch
Sudden pitch changes occur when your voice feels too low or too high, and as a result, you may experience difficulties hitting certain notes while singing or modulating the voice during speech. It may be caused by vocal cord inflammation, vocal abuse, vocal nodules or polyps, or nerve damage. If this persists for more than 2-3 weeks, see a qualified speech therapist for voice problems, who may recommend starting a voice therapy program.
How Voice Problem Treatment Can Help
The best solution for voice disorders is getting adequate voice rest. For the next few days or weeks, your doctor may recommend that you avoid straining your voice through singing, shouting, or speaking loudly for long hours. When voice disorders persist, your Speech-Language Pathologist or ENT doctor may suggest undergoing the following voice cord treatment approaches:
Voice Therapy:
Speech-Language Pathologists use different voice therapy exercises and breathing techniques to help the individual achieve clearer speech by strengthening the vocal muscles. Voice therapists may also provide tips on protecting your voice and avoiding voice abuse, thus preventing musical tension dysphonia.
Medications:
Some voice problems may be treated with medications by reducing inflammation or managing the underlying health conditions. For instance, acid reflux medications may address throat irritation issues due to stomach acid. Corticosteroids help reduce vocal cord swelling or inflammation. Neurological medicines, on the other hand, may help treat conditions like spasmodic dysphonia
Surgery or Other Medical Procedures:
When voice disorders are a result of vocal structure abnormalities, surgery may be the ideal solution. For instance, microsurgery may be advised to remove vocal polyps, cysts, or nodules from one’s vocal cords. Laser surgery helps treat lesions or abnormal tissue growth around the vocal cords. Vocal cord injections, on the other hand, may treat conditions like vocal cord paralysis by improving muscle control.
Final Words
Voice disorders may affect your day-to-day communication and relationships, and if they persist for a long period, they may affect your mental well-being and confidence in social settings. Therefore, consult a professional speech therapist for voice problems without delay to regain your natural vocal quality and prevent further damage.
Book an appointment with a certified Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) at your nearest Speech Plus branch and get one-on-one speech therapy sessions tailored to your unique voice and speech problems.
FAQs
Q. 1. What is a voice disorder?
A voice disorder or voice problem is a condition that affects one’s voice quality, loudness, or pitch, which may result in a hoarse, raspy, weak, or breathy voice.
Q. 2. When to see a speech therapist or voice specialist?
If your voice disorder symptoms persist for more than 2-3 weeks without any signs of improvement, it’s time to seek help from a voice or speech therapist.
Q. 3. Do voice disorder symptoms go away on their own?
Some mild to moderate voice problem symptoms, which are caused by minor infections or vocal overuse, may improve with vocal rest. However, when the signs and symptoms are persistent for more than 2 weeks, your vocal disorders need an immediate professional evaluation to prevent permanent vocal damage.
