Dysphonia

Synonyms

Voice disorder

Definition

A voice disorder, or dysphonia, can be characterized as a disruption in vocal quality, pitch, loudness, resonance, and/or duration that draws attention to itself, is inappropriate for a person’s age, sex, and/or culture, and that may not meet an individual’s occupational needs. The patient’s voice may be described using terms such as hoarse, rough, strained, breathy, weak, or tremulous.

Dysphonia may result from functional etiologies (such as muscle tension dysphonia), or may have an anatomical or physiological (organic) etiology, including growths on the vocal folds of benign, viral or carcinogenic origin, laryngopharyngeal reflux, vocal fold injuries and scarring, inflammation, edema, paresis or paralysis of the vocal folds (unilateral or bilateral), aging, phonotrauma, or a variety of neurological conditions. Voice disorders have been found to have a negative impact on quality of life in adults and children, and can be treated behaviorally,...