Those who use their voice in a professional setting can be more at risk for disorders. Excessive talking, straining and constantly clearing your throat can lead to problems including nodules, polyps and lesions on the vocal cords.

Other causes of voice disorders include:

  • Acid reflux (stomach acid backup into the throat)
  • Diseases that paralyze the vocal cords
  • Growths due to a virus or cancer
  • Paradoxical vocal cord motion disorder (an illness that mimics asthma)
  • Infections
  • Laryngitis or pharyngitis (inflammation of the pharynx)
  • Spasms (spasmodic dysphonia)

Signs that your voice isn’t healthy include:

  • Your voice has become hoarse or raspy
  • You’ve lost the ability to hit some high notes when singing
  • Your voice suddenly sounds deeper
  • Your throat often feels raw, achy or strained
  • It’s become an effort to talk

Source: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders


Tests and Treatments

There are many different treatments for voice disorders. Which is right for you depends on the cause and your particular needs. With early diagnosis and treatment, most voice disorders can be successfully treated.

Here are some possible tests and treatments available to you at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center:

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Why Choose Ohio State?

Specialty trained: Our physicians who specialize in voice and swallowing disorders are fellowship-trained surgeons. These specialists receive training above the level most ENT specialists receive. Half of the fellowship specialists in all of Ohio can be found here.

Depth of experience: Our department sees up to 30 patients or more in a day. They can range from anyone who’s coughing more than they should be to nationally renowned touring singers with vocal impairment.

Clinical excellence: We’re considered the worldwide experts on paradoxical vocal cord motion disorder (PVCMD) – a vocal cord abnormality that mimics asthma – partly because our academic affiliation enables us to conduct research that leads to better diagnosis and treatment. In fact, we see more patients for PVCMD than any other facility in the United States.

Unique treatments: While surgery may be your only option at other hospitals, we often offer various other safe and effective alternatives. This includes using an in-office injection procedure we conducted leading research on.

Nationally ranked: OSU Wexner Medical Center is recognized by U.S.News & World Report one of the nation’s best hospitals for care of the ear, nose and throat.

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