Advanced Head & Neck Rehabilitation Center of Texas
  • Start
    • Introduction video
    • Site Map
  • About
    • Meet the Staff
    • Contact
    • Informational Handouts
    • Publications
    • Links
    • Disclaimer
  • The NTLS
  • Laryngectomy
    • Stories, testimonials and clinical videos
    • Laryngectomees Making News
    • Changes following a laryngectomy >
      • Anatomical Changes After Laryngectomy
      • Functional Changes After Laryngectomy
      • Swallowing After Laryngectomy
      • Smelling after Laryngectomy
    • General Care >
      • Stoma Care
      • Using Suction
      • Saline Bullets
      • Bathing and Showering as a Laryngectomy
    • Tracheoesophageal Voice Prosthesis - TEP >
      • Cleaning Your Voice Prosthesis
      • Troubleshooting Voice Prosthesis Issues
      • Voicing Tips
      • Handsfree Speech
      • Controlling Fungal Growth
      • TEP and HME During Radiation Treatment
    • The Electrolarynx
    • HME and Tubes >
      • Using an HME Cassette
      • Cleaning Mucous From An HME
      • How To Apply An Adhesive Housing
      • Applying an OptiDerm Adhesive Housing
      • Larytube Use and Cleaning
      • Larybutton Use and Cleaning
    • Laryngectomy FAQ >
      • General Post-Op
      • Swallowing
      • HME's - Adhesives - Larybuttons
      • TEP's and voicing
    • Rescue Breathing for Laryngectomees and Neck Breathers
  • Radiation
    • Swallowing During Radiation Treatment
    • Preventing Trismus
    • Oral Care During Radiation Treatment
    • Nutrition During Radiation Treatment
    • When Nothing Tastes Right
    • TEP and HME During Radiation
    • Radiation FAQ
  • Swallowing
    • Normal Swallowing
    • Dysphagia >
      • What is Dysphagia?
      • Common Symptoms of Dysphagia
      • Evaluating Dysphagia
    • Management of Dysphagia >
      • Overview: Diet and Intake Modifications
      • Dysphagia Therapy
      • Medical Management
      • Vital-Stim Instructions
    • Trismus
    • Returning to Eating Again
    • Dietary Guidelines >
      • SOFT DIET
      • PUREED DIET
      • MOIST DIET
      • Thickening Liquids at Home
    • Therapeutic feeding
    • Swallowing exercises
  • Tracheostomy
    • Indications
    • Trach Tube Anatomy
    • Tracheostomy Tube Varieties >
      • Cuffed vs Cuffless Tubes
      • Types of Cuffs
      • Proper Cuff Inflation
      • Fenestrated vs. Non-Fenestrated Tubes
    • Being a “Neck Breather” >
      • Physiologic and Functional Changes
    • Speaking with a Tracheostomy Tube >
      • Understanding How a Voice is Produced
      • Speaking Valves and Alternatives
    • Swallowing with a Tracheostomy
    • Suction
    • Tracheostomy Care & Decannulation
    • Tracheostomy FAQ
  • Feeding Tubes
    • Feeding Tube Guide
    • Overview
    • Why Feeding Tubes are Used
    • Types of Feeding Tubes
    • Feeding Tube Methods
    • Gastrostomy Tube Troubleshooting
    • G-Tube Removal: Preparation and Post-Removal Instructions
    • Feeding Tube FAQ
  • Reflux
    • What is Reflux?
    • Evaluating Reflux
    • Reflux Management
    • Medications
    • Reflux Diet: Beneficial Dietary and Lifestyle Changes
    • Reflux Diet: So What Can I Eat?
    • Extensive Testing and Management
    • Reflux FAQ
  • Voice
    • Voice Care
    • Evaluating Voice Disorders
    • Types of Voice Disorders
    • Managing Voice Disorders
  • Chronic Cough
    • Chronic Cough Management
    • Irritable Larynx Diagnosis
    • Management of ILS
    • Vocal Hygiene
    • Cough Cessation Protocol
    • Chronic Cough FAQ

Types of Voice Disorders

The type of voice disorder you have will largely determine the appropriate treatment and for this reason, it is extremely important to understand the reason(s) for the voice disorder. In some cases, there may be various options for treatment and your doctor and/or SLP will educate you thoroughly in this regard.

There are two main types of voice disorders, although it is not uncommon to have a combination of the two. In some cases, an organic disorder can result in the development of a functional disorder. For this reason, the best management of your voice disorder may be a combination of treatments.

Organic Disorders


An organic disorder refers to a problem with the mechanisms of phonation and are classified into two categories:

  1. Structural: A structural disorder refers to a problem with the voice mechanism itself. In this case, there may be fluid in the vocal cords, polyps/cysts interfering with closure and vibration, etc.
  2. Neurogenic: A neurogenic voice disorder refers to a disruption in the nerves controlling the larynx. Common examples of this include complete or partial vocal cord paralysis. There can also be spasms in the laryngeal musculature that interfere with the ability to produce a voice.

Picture
Carcinoma
Picture
Polyp
Picture
Nodules
Picture
Reflux Laryngitis - Sample 1
Picture
Tracheal Stenosis

Functional Disorders


​A functional voice disorder refers to a problem with the manner in which a voice is produced and can be affected on many different levels. Voicing, or how we produce a voice, does not require conscious thought or effort. This is because a signal is sent from the brain that automatically results in the coordinated pattern/event we call voicing. For various reasons, however, this pattern can become altered, resulting in behaviors that are interfering with the production of a clear voice.

In some cases, a functional disorder may arise as a result of an organic disorder. For example, if a vocal cord cyst is interfering with the closure of the vocal cords, there may (unconsciously) be more force or effort to close the vocal cords in light of the obstruction. This extra muscle effort can result in a functional disorder, especially if it is continued over an extended period of time.

Functional voice disorders may also have an inconsistency to them, becoming better or worse at different times. It is even possible to have a very normal voice at times, while at other, a significant dysphonia may be present.

Although there may be a degree of variability noted in organic voice disorders, this dysphonia tends to be more consistent.
Picture
Left Vocal Cord Paralysis
Picture
Glottic Insufficiency During Phonation from Vocal Cord Paralysis

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Start
    • Introduction video
    • Site Map
  • About
    • Meet the Staff
    • Contact
    • Informational Handouts
    • Publications
    • Links
    • Disclaimer
  • The NTLS
  • Laryngectomy
    • Stories, testimonials and clinical videos
    • Laryngectomees Making News
    • Changes following a laryngectomy >
      • Anatomical Changes After Laryngectomy
      • Functional Changes After Laryngectomy
      • Swallowing After Laryngectomy
      • Smelling after Laryngectomy
    • General Care >
      • Stoma Care
      • Using Suction
      • Saline Bullets
      • Bathing and Showering as a Laryngectomy
    • Tracheoesophageal Voice Prosthesis - TEP >
      • Cleaning Your Voice Prosthesis
      • Troubleshooting Voice Prosthesis Issues
      • Voicing Tips
      • Handsfree Speech
      • Controlling Fungal Growth
      • TEP and HME During Radiation Treatment
    • The Electrolarynx
    • HME and Tubes >
      • Using an HME Cassette
      • Cleaning Mucous From An HME
      • How To Apply An Adhesive Housing
      • Applying an OptiDerm Adhesive Housing
      • Larytube Use and Cleaning
      • Larybutton Use and Cleaning
    • Laryngectomy FAQ >
      • General Post-Op
      • Swallowing
      • HME's - Adhesives - Larybuttons
      • TEP's and voicing
    • Rescue Breathing for Laryngectomees and Neck Breathers
  • Radiation
    • Swallowing During Radiation Treatment
    • Preventing Trismus
    • Oral Care During Radiation Treatment
    • Nutrition During Radiation Treatment
    • When Nothing Tastes Right
    • TEP and HME During Radiation
    • Radiation FAQ
  • Swallowing
    • Normal Swallowing
    • Dysphagia >
      • What is Dysphagia?
      • Common Symptoms of Dysphagia
      • Evaluating Dysphagia
    • Management of Dysphagia >
      • Overview: Diet and Intake Modifications
      • Dysphagia Therapy
      • Medical Management
      • Vital-Stim Instructions
    • Trismus
    • Returning to Eating Again
    • Dietary Guidelines >
      • SOFT DIET
      • PUREED DIET
      • MOIST DIET
      • Thickening Liquids at Home
    • Therapeutic feeding
    • Swallowing exercises
  • Tracheostomy
    • Indications
    • Trach Tube Anatomy
    • Tracheostomy Tube Varieties >
      • Cuffed vs Cuffless Tubes
      • Types of Cuffs
      • Proper Cuff Inflation
      • Fenestrated vs. Non-Fenestrated Tubes
    • Being a “Neck Breather” >
      • Physiologic and Functional Changes
    • Speaking with a Tracheostomy Tube >
      • Understanding How a Voice is Produced
      • Speaking Valves and Alternatives
    • Swallowing with a Tracheostomy
    • Suction
    • Tracheostomy Care & Decannulation
    • Tracheostomy FAQ
  • Feeding Tubes
    • Feeding Tube Guide
    • Overview
    • Why Feeding Tubes are Used
    • Types of Feeding Tubes
    • Feeding Tube Methods
    • Gastrostomy Tube Troubleshooting
    • G-Tube Removal: Preparation and Post-Removal Instructions
    • Feeding Tube FAQ
  • Reflux
    • What is Reflux?
    • Evaluating Reflux
    • Reflux Management
    • Medications
    • Reflux Diet: Beneficial Dietary and Lifestyle Changes
    • Reflux Diet: So What Can I Eat?
    • Extensive Testing and Management
    • Reflux FAQ
  • Voice
    • Voice Care
    • Evaluating Voice Disorders
    • Types of Voice Disorders
    • Managing Voice Disorders
  • Chronic Cough
    • Chronic Cough Management
    • Irritable Larynx Diagnosis
    • Management of ILS
    • Vocal Hygiene
    • Cough Cessation Protocol
    • Chronic Cough FAQ