Dysphonia is an alteration of the acoustic qualities of the voice whose main cause is the overexertion to which the vocal cords are subjected.
Poor management of breathing during speech leads to an additional effort that ends up conditioning the vocal tone and even the appearance of lesions.
In common practice, the most frequent dysphonias are those that appear due to a forced use of the voice. For example, as a result of the work environment, as in the case of teachers or salespeople, or due to erroneous habits.
Sometimes we can detect lesions such as vocal polyps or nodules. In other cases, it is a functional dysphonia, i.e., in the absence of organic lesions.
The main difference between dysphonia and aphonia is that the latter involves the total loss of voice. In the case of dysphonia, it implies an alteration of its characteristics, such as tone, intensity or even vocal fatigue.
How is dysphonia treated?
It always depends on the findings of the examination. Functional dysphonia is treated with speech therapy.
Nodules are also treated with speech therapy as a first option, although in selected cases they will require surgical intervention.
In the case of vocal polyps, surgery is the initial option as in Reinke’s edema, which is an increase in the volume of both vocal folds associated with smoking.
How can we assess whether the problem will go further?
First of all, it is necessary to differentiate the origin of the dysphonia. It is essential that any dysphonia of more than 15 days of evolution be evaluated by the otolaryngologist. This is especially important in adult smokers and even more so if there is no history of catarrhal disease.
We should not forget that dysphonia is the main symptom of laryngeal cancer and that early attention conditions the prognosis.
The rest of dysphonia originated by a “bad use of the voice” does not have malignant potential, but it can worsen, if not treated, to the point of significantly affecting the quality of life and professional development.