Vocal cords, also called vocal folds, play an important role in how we produce sounds. First there must be air in your lungs, which occurs through the act of inhaling. The air is then pushed through the lungs into your windpipe.
At the top of the windpipe sit your vocal cords, which stay open when breathing and close when you produce sound.
As the air gets pushed out of the windpipe, it passes between the vocal cords, causing them to vibrate. This vibration sounds like buzzing. This sound is passed through the throat, nose and mouth, which all work together to change the buzzing into speech.
Vocal Cord Nodules and Polyps
Vocal cord nodules and polyps are benign growths on the vocal cords. Nodules are hard, callous-like growths caused by vocal cord trauma while polyps are larger, liquid-filled growths that have several possible causes. Signs of these growths may include hoarseness, breathiness, a rough or scratchy voice and pain. These conditions must be evaluated by an expert ENT physician and laryngologist. We may recommend medical or surgical treatments depending on your individual case.
Vocal Cord Paralysis
Vocal cord paralysis is when one or both vocal cords stops moving from nerve infection, injury or trauma. This condition appears as a breathy voice or inability to swallow and can occur at any age. It requires immediate medical attention from a knowledgeable ENT physician and laryngologist with endoscopic experience.
Vocal Cord Surgery
There are many potential problems that can develop with your vocal cords and in some cases these conditions may require surgical treatment. Your San Jose ENT doctor may recommend vocal cord surgery to repair hoarseness or vocal paralysis, reduce tissue mass or remove nodules, polyps or a tumor from the throat.
Spasmodic Dysphonia
Spasmodic dysphonia is a chronic voice disorder that causes the movement of the vocal cords to be forced and strained, resulting in a broken voice that is often confused with stuttering. If you’re experiencing occasional vocal breaks or spasms; periods without sound; or a voice that’s jerky, quivery, hoarse or tight, you may be showing signs of spasmodic dysphonia and should see an otolaryngologist. There are many effective treatments for this condition.
Laryngoscopy
A laryngoscopy is an assessment procedure that lets your otolaryngologist look at the back of your throat, your voice box (larynx) and your vocal cords with a tool called a laryngoscope. There are two types: indirect laryngoscopy and direct fiber-optic laryngoscopy.
Videostroboscopy
Laryngeal videostroboscopy is a video endoscopic procedure that uses a stroboscopic light source to allow your ENT physician to see your vocal folds. It lets us evaluate the vibratory patterns of the vocal fold mucosa, vocal fold physiology and detailed vocal fold anatomy/pathology, allowing for accurate diagnoses of many conditions.
Vocal Cord Surgery
There are many potential problems that can develop with your vocal cords and in some cases these conditions may require surgical treatment. Your San Jose ENT doctor may recommend vocal cord surgery to repair hoarseness or vocal paralysis, reduce tissue mass or remove nodules, polyps or a tumor from the throat.
Botox for Spasmodic Dysphonia
Spasmodic dysphonia is a rare neurological voice disorder characterized by involuntary spasms of the muscles controlling the vocal folds. There’s no known cure for San Jose patients who suffer from this rare condition, but we have outstanding treatment options to manage symptoms. One of the most effective treatments amongst Camino ENT patients is BOTOX®, which allows you to speak more easily and improves your voice quality by relaxing the muscles of the vocal folds and preventing spasms. Injections must be given every 3–6 months and are most effective when combined with speech therapy.
Call Camino Ear, Nose & Throat Clinic at (408) 227-6300 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
