Aphonia

1
Aphonia
2
Aphonia

• Aphonia is a condition that can take many
  different forms. You can have a partial loss of
  your voice and it may sound hoarse or, you may
  have complete loss of your voice and it may sound
  like a whisper. Loss of voice can take place
  slowly or quickly depending on the cause.

3
Causes of Aphonia

• Aphonia generally happenes due to the problems
  with the voice box (called the larynx). However,
  there can be other causes, includingConditions
  that affect the vocal cords or airway, this may
  include injury, swelling, or disease, like
• Laryngitis that is caused by a viral, bacterial,
  or fungal infection
• Vocal abuseyelling or talking excessively
• Exposure to airborne irritants, like smoke or air
  pollution
• Acid reflux from gastroesophageal reflux disease
  (GERD)
• Thickening of the vocal chords

4
Causes of Aphonia
Continue

• Nodules or polyps on the vocal chords
• Muscle tension dysphonia
• Damage to the nerves that affect how the larynx
  functions
• Laryngeal or thyroid cancer
• Removal of larynx
• Breathing problems that affect the ability to
  speak
• Neurological disorders such as myasthenia gravis,
  multiple sclerosis, Parkinsons disease, and
  amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

5
Risk Factors associated with Aphonia

• Factors that may increase ones chance of
  developing aphonia include
• Overusing your voice like speaking until you are
  hoarse
• Behaviors that abuse your vocal chords, such as
  smoking, which also puts you at a higher risk for
  cancer of the larynx
• If you are having surgery on or around the larynx

6
Diagnosis of Aphonia

• You will be asked about your symptoms and
  medical history. A physical exam will be
  done.The cause of your symptoms may not be
  obvious. You may be referred to an ENT
  specialist. This doctor may use an instrument
  called a laryngoscope to check your vocal cords.
  Other tests may also be done to evaluate your
  voice function.If your doctor is having some of
  the concerns that there may be a neurological or
  psychological cause, then you can be referred to
  other specialists.

7
Prevention of Aphonia

• To help reduce your chance of aphonia
• If you smoke, talk to your doctor about ways to
  quit
• If you drink, limit your intake
• Limit your exposure to fumes and toxins
• Avoid talking a lot or yelling
• Avoid whispering
• Get the treatment done for conditions that can
  cause loss of voice

8
Symptoms of Aphonia

• Symptoms of aphonia may include
• Unable to speak or unable to speak above a
  whisper
• Hoarseness
• Spasm of vocal cords
• Throat pain
• Difficulty swallowingfood or fluids may go into
  the lungs

9
Treatment of Aphonia

• You can take the following steps to help ease
  laryngitis
• Rest your voice
• Avoid smoking
• Stay hydrated
• Use a cool mist humidifier
• Take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as
  acetaminophen and ibuprofen
• Some of the other treatments depend on the
  specific cause, such as
• Going through voice therapy if your loss of voice
  is due to voice overuse
• Having medication to control acid reflux
• Performing surgery to extract growths

10
CONNECT WITH US

• Logon to
• www.lazoi.com
• Like us on Facebook
• https//www.facebook.com/LazoiTheLife
• Follow us on Twitter
• https//www.twitter.com/lazoithelife
• Follow us on Pinterest
• https//www.in.pinterest.com/lazoithelife