Voice Disorders Overview

The primary way we express ourselves through sound, crucial for human communication.

A problem with the quality, pitch, or loudness of our voice.

The highness or lowness of your voice, determined by how fast your vocal cords vibrate.

The number of times your vocal cords vibrate per second, measured in Hertz (Hz).

The loudness or soft of your voice.

A voice quality where sounds are unclear and noisy due to irregular vocal cord vibrations.

A voice quality that combines harshness and breathiness, often sounding low-pitched and husky.

The irregular vibrations of vocal cords that cause hoarseness and roughness.

A rough and unpleasant sound often associated with tight vocal cords and forceful air release.

An unsteady voice that shakes or quivers due to a lack of control from the nervous system over the voice box.

The quality of a voice that is breathy and often sounds like whispering. It can be present in various degrees, from mildly breathy to almost inaudible.

A change in the pitch of the voice, potentially due to vocal cord tension or other factors.

Describes the effort used to produce a voice, making it either strained or relaxed.

Vocal nodules are small growths that appear on the vocal folds due to excessive strain and overuse. They are often caused by yelling, screaming, or other vocal abuse.

Vocal nodules are usually bilateral, meaning they occur on both vocal folds, even if one is more prominent.

Vocal nodules are caused by frequent and forceful closure of the vocal folds, which occurs during yelling, shouting, or excessive vocal strain.

Vocal nodules can be treated through voice therapy, which involves techniques to improve voice use and vocal hygiene.

Vocal nodules are especially common in people who frequently use their voice for extended periods, like singers, teachers, and public speakers.

A birth defect where the lip doesn't fully close during pregnancy.

A birth defect where a gap exists in the bony roof of the mouth (the palate).

A birth defect affecting the front part of the palate, often combined with a cleft lip.

A type of cleft where the bone between the nose and the top of the mouth is affected.

A specific type of communication disorder affecting individuals with cleft lip or palate.

A voice quality where sounds are unclear and noisy due to irregular vocal cord vibrations.

When vowels, liquids, and glides sound excessively nasal, often due to a lack of proper oral airflow.

In severe cases, even voiced oral consonants can sound nasal due to insufficient oral air pressure.

The nasal resonance is excessive, affecting vowels, liquids, and glides, sometimes even voiced consonants.

The voice sounds too nasal, affecting the clarity and quality of speech.