Voice Disorders

Voice is the most important means of making communication between people audible. We can convey happiness, resentment, bewilderment, fear, and many emotions in our voice. We've all had a problem with our voice at some point in our lives; an upper respiratory infection, shouting and cheering at the team we hired, or exposure to an irritant and many other factors can cause vocal impairment. The first thing to do when we have a voice problem is to examine an ear-nose-throat physician.

How is the sound produced?

The structure popularly called “Adam's Apple” is the front part of the larynx. The sound folds extend backward from the Adam's Apple. When we exhale, air flows from our lungs to the larynx. This air passes through our vocal folds. If we close our sound folds during this flow, vibration occurs and sound is produced.

What is a normal sound?

Normal voice is a sound that is similar to the person's voice quality, pitch, and intensity compared to individuals of similar age, gender, cultural background, and geographical location and is suitable for communication.

What is a voice disorder?

Voice impairment occurs when the person's voice quality, pitch, and intensity begin to differ according to individuals of similar age, gender, cultural background, and geographic placement. The failure of the larynx mechanism to meet the need for sound for structural, functional, or both reasons should bring to mind the sound disorder.

What are the factors leading to voice impairment?

The factors that will affect the mechanism of sound production and cause sound impairment are very diverse. Voice abusive speech habits (speak loudly, shout, often clear throat, etc.), medical reasons (larynx removal, thyroid surgery, intubation, heart surgery, etc.), chronic diseases (respiratory problems, hormonal problems, stomach problems, allergies etc.), habits (alcohol, cigarette consumption) or neurological disorders are the most important causes of voice disorders.

Is it possible to treat/treat voice disorders?

If there is a sound disorder, a doctor's examination is required first. The physician will assist you in diagnosis and perform medical treatment when needed, or refer you to a language and speech therapist when voice therapy is needed. This is because language and speech therapists apply voice therapy techniques to prevent, correct, and avoid reoccurrence of certain vocal diseases.

What is voice therapy?

How patients would produce the best possible sound by using the sound systems, how to protect from illness or harm and in the future, and how to get back the balance of the physiology of voice production aimed at teaching, promoting aid coordination, breathing, sound production and vocal cords necessary for the health of the appropriate curtain height, and the sound quality is a program that includes exercises to ensure. It is a preventive approach as part of the rehabilitation program to reduce or eliminate environmental impacts and behaviors that would harm the voice, as well as to provide the necessary use and care for the sound to remain healthy. According to the disease and its symptoms, the therapy techniques are applied to vary.

What can you do for the health of your voice?

Consume 8 to 10 glasses of water during the day. When we don't consume enough water, our vocal cords, like every organ, can't meet the moisture they need. When the vocal cords are dry, the secretions in the throat thicken, creating the need to clear the throat or cough. You can drink a glass when you wake up in the morning, one glass during meals, one glass in between, and one glass of water before going to bed.
Avoid clearing the throat and coughing. Clearing the throat and coughing can damage the vocal cords. Instead, you can swallow vigorously or take small amounts of fluid. Throat clearing and coughing can be caused by another underlying cause (such as reflux).
Get a full night's sleep. Insomnia and fatigue will negatively affect your sound quality.
avoid consumption of Menthol/ peppermint candy, gum, etc.. These types of consumables cause your throat and therefore your vocal cords to dry. Instead of these consumables, you can consume liquids or get throat lozenges.
Do not speak in long sentences. Speaking in short sentences allows you to use breathing support correctly and speak more comfortably.
Avoid speaking in a loud voice. Do not shout, Don't yell, Don't call back, don! A noisy environment (car/bus interior, shopping malls, street, concert, party, restaurant, playground, construction site, traffic, talking against class, etc.) being in it, calling out to someone in another room causes us to use our voice from a higher tone and pitch. As a result, the vocal cords are damaged. You can use a microphone when speaking in public. When you call someone in another room, you can perform activities that do not use your vocal cords, such as whistling or ringing.
Do not talk on the phone for a long time. When you're on the phone, you can speak with a loud voice to make your voice heard to the other side. Remember that speaking with loud noise can damage your vocal cords.
Avoid dry, smoky, and dusty environments. This type of environment causes your throat to dry and irritate. Choose non-smoking environments. Stay away from air-conditioned environments. You can place water-filled containers at various points to dampen the environment. You can wear a mask if you need to be in dusty environments.
Avoid using your voice when you feel tired. Remember that when you continue to use your voice, you may damage your vocal cords.
Always follow the advice given by your doctor about your stomach and/or throat reflux and avoid foods and drinks that cause reflux. Because reflux will negatively affect your vocal cords, your sound quality will also be affected.
If you have problems with your voice for longer than 15 days, contact your nearest otolaryngologist. A problem may lie beneath the hoarseness that lasts longer than 15 days.