Laryngeal Pathology

Vocal Hyperfunction Misuse of laryngeal muscles Excessive adductory force Often results in laryngitis (inflammation of folds) Etiology: –Excessive contraction of the lateral cricoarytenoid & Arytenoid muscles –Laryngeal tension from contraction of thryoarytenoid & cricothyroid Results in: Nodules, laryngitis, contact ulcers & vocal fatigue

Vocal Hyperfunction: Therapy Behavioral changes Vocal Hygiene Voice improvement through specific treatment approaches –Easy onset speech –Oral resonance –Laryngeal massage

Vocal Fold Paralysis Loss of voluntary motor function, whereas paresis refers to weakness Forms or damage: –Damage to either upper or lower motor neurons –One side of recurrent nerve damage= unilateral –Bilateral lower motor neuron damage= bilateral Adductor paralysis= Muscles of adduction paralyzed Abductor Paralysis= Muscles of abduction paralyzed

Vocal Fold Paralysis Etiology: –Damage to nerve during thyroid surgery –Blunt trauma (MVA) –Cerebral vascular accident (CVA: Hemorrhage or other conditions causing loss of blood to brain) –Aneurysm (ballooning of blood vessel)- compresses laryngeal nerve causing paresis or paralysis

Vocal Fold Nodules Aggregates of tissue arising from abuse –Abuses= screaming, shouting, cheerleading –Abuse causes permanent change in vocal fold tissue Vocal hyperfunction- Laryngitis- Hardening of tissue- Nodule formation Unilateral or bilateral Usually arises on the anterior and middle thirds of the vocal folds (point of greatest impact) May need surgical removal

Puberphonia Normal development- children undergo voice changes –rapid growth of thyroid cartilage & thyroarytenoid –Pitch breaks thyroarytenoid is the maintenance of the childhood pitch despite having reached puberty Young men with falsetto quality voices Therapy to help achieve habitual pitch

Laryngeal Stridor Harsh sound produced during respiration Sound associated with some obstruction in the respiratory passageway Arise from growth in the larynx or trachea causing turbulence May arise from vocal folds if paralyzed in adducted position