VOCAL CORD PARESIS AND PARALYSIS
Vocal cord paresis and paralysis is a condition that results in the inability of one or both vocal cords to move.
- This condition occurs when there is an abnormal nerve impulse to the laryngeal muscles (voice box muscles) resulting in paresis or paralysis of the vocal cord muscles.
- Paresis is the partial loss of nerve impulse, resulting in abnormal or weak movement of the laryngeal muscles.
- Paralysis is the complete loss of nerve impulse, resulting in no movement of the laryngeal muscles.
- Paresis and paralysis affects the ability to sing, speak, swallow and even breathe. This happens because the vocal cords do more than just produce sound, they also protect the airway by preventing materials such as food, drin, and saliva from entering the windpipe and causing you to choke.
- In most cases, only one vocal cord is affected.
- In rare cases, both vocal cords can be affected leading to serious conditions. This can cause severe vocal difficulties and serious problems with breathing and swallowing and even sometimes death.
- This condition can happen at any age, in both males and females.
CAUSES
Known causes may include:
- Neck or chest trauma: The nerves that serve the vocal cord may be injured from a trauma to your neck or chest.
- Nerve damage during surgery: Surgical procedure carried out on your neck or upper chest can cause damage to the nerves that serve your voice box.A surgicall procedure thatcarriesy such risk factor may include surgeries to the thyroid, neck, chest, and esophagus.
- Stroke: Blood flow may be interrupted in the brain as a result ofa This may damage the part of the brain that sends messages to the voice box.
- Viral infections: Nerves in the larynx may be damaged due to inflammation from viral infections such as herpes and Lyme disease.
- Tumors: cancerous and non-cancerous tumors can grow around nerves and squeeze them, resulting in various degrees of paralysis and paresis.
- Some neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease may predispose an individual to the condition.
SYMPTOMS
Symptoms may include:
- Hoarseness
- Loss of vocal pitch
- Noisy breathing
- Frequent throat clearing
- Ineffective Coughing or sneezing
- Inability to speak loudly
- Choking while swallowing food, drink or saliva
- Breathy voice
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
The doctor may review your medical history, this may reveal any underlying condition that may cause the condition
The doctor will then ask questions about symptoms, lifestyle (voice use, tobacco and alcohol use).
After which an examination of your voice box may be conducted to determine whether one or both vocal cords are abnormal. This will help to know the treatment method to use.
The following test may be performed:
- Voice evaluation to assess voice quality and performance
- Laryngoscopy
- Laryngeal electromyography that measures the electric currents in your voice box muscles (larynx muscles).
- Blood tests and scans may be used as an additional test to identify the underlying diseases that may cause your condition. Scans may include MRI or CT scans of the chest, neck, the base of the skulls and the brain.
- Breathing test
TREATMENT
Treatment depends on the causes, the severity of the symptoms and how long symptoms have been present.
Treatment may include voice therapy, and surgery, or both.
Voice therapy sessions may involve activities to strengthen your vocal cords, protect your airway liquids and solids, swallowing, improve breath control during speech and prevent unusual tension in the other muscles that surround the affected cord.
Surgical interventions may be recommended if the patient does not recover completely with voice therapy.
Surgical options may include bulk injection, structural implants, vocal cord repositioning, and tracheotomy.