Vocal cord nodules are benign growths caused by vocal abuse, which can cause discomfort and damage to the voice. Symptoms include a rough voice and a feeling of a lump in the throat. Treatment can include voice therapy or surgery, and prevention involves speech training and avoiding lung-damaging habits.
Vocal cord nodules are growths on a person’s vocal cords, or vocal cords, that occur as a result of vocal abuse. Vocal cord nodules are in no way life-threatening; in fact, they are completely benign. They can, however, cause a lot of discomfort and damage to the voice. The nodules are typically treated with voice therapy or can be removed with surgery.
Symptoms of vocal cord nodules include a rough, scratchy voice and a feeling of a lump in the throat. Nodules are closely related to polyps, which also form on the vocal cords from prolonged abuse. Polyps are more like blisters or cold sores, while nodules are more like calluses.
Vocal cord nodules form as a result of prolonged abuse to the vocal cords. When the vocal cords are irritated, they can become swollen and swollen. Over time, the swollen patches can turn into hard, calloused growths. People who have to talk loudly or sing often, such as teachers, speakers, and musicians, are at a higher risk than others of developing nodules. With training, people can adjust their speaking and singing styles in ways that reduce the chances of damaging the vocal cords.
While it’s often the case that the nodules form as a result of a certain style of speaking or singing, they can also be caused by other factors, such as heartburn and smoking addiction. Other possible factors include thyroid problems, allergies and stress. The diversity of possible causes is one of the reasons why it is especially important to see a doctor as soon as symptoms of the lump appear.
Vocal cord nodules, while harmless, can be incredibly annoying. They can be physically painful, causing a sore throat that may feel like it has a lump. People might also experience neck pain and even develop shooting pains that go from ear to ear.
Perhaps more annoying than the pain is the inability to speak and sing. Vocal cord nodules can cause people to have hoarse, raspy-sounding voices. For singers, developing a rough voice can be devastating. British actress/singer Julie Andrews famously lost her singing voice after botched surgery to remove vocal cord nodules.
Surgery is usually one of the last resorts for treating vocal cord nodules and polyps; usually, surgery is done only if the nodules are exceptionally persistent and large. In many cases, the nodules can be relieved with speech therapy. They can also be prevented with speech training, which teaches people how to speak and sing correctly to avoid vocal cord injury. Others may need to kick lung-damaging habits, such as smoking.
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