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Patients may seek voice therapy for many reasons, such as the desire to change vocal pitch or intensity level. Other voice problems are caused by vocal abuse and misuse and include vocal nodules and polyps.
Vocal fold nodules are benign growths on both vocal folds that are caused by vocal abuse. Over time, repeated misuse of the vocal folds results in soft, swollen spots on each vocal fold that develop into harder, callus-like growths. The nodules will become larger and more stiff the longer the vocal abuse continues.
Polyps , on the other hand, can take a number of forms and are sometimes caused by vocal abuse. Polyps appear on either one or both of the vocal folds and appear as a swelling or bump (like a nodule), a stalk-like growth, or a blister-like lesion. Most polyps are larger than nodules and may be called by other names, such as polypoid degeneration or Reinke's edema.
Nodules and polyps cause similar symptoms and include:
- Hoarseness
- Breathiness
- A "rough" voice
- A "scratchy" voice
- Harshness
- Shooting pain from ear to ear
- A "lump in the throat" sensation
- Neck pain
- Decreased pitch range
- Voice and body fatigue
*www.asha.org |
