Voice Disorders
A hoarse, strained or quickly tiring voice can have many causes – from incorrect vocal technique to organic changes of the vocal cords. Targeted voice therapy protects the voice, relieves symptoms and prevents long-term damage.
Functional and organic voice disorders
In a functional dysphonia, the voice is impaired without any identifiable organic cause. Common causes include overuse, incorrect vocal technique, stress or muscle tension.
Organic voice disorders have a physical cause: vocal nodules, polyps, vocal cord paralysis (recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy) or inflammatory changes. Functional and organic causes often interact.
Common voice disorders
- Functional dysphonia – hoarseness, vocal fatigue without organic finding
- Hyperfunctional dysphonia – excessive muscle tension when speaking
- Hypofunctional dysphonia – weak, breathy voice
- Vocal nodules – caused by chronic overuse
- Vocal polyps or oedema
- Vocal cord paralysis (recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy) – after surgery or nerve damage
- Mutation disorder – incomplete voice change at puberty
- Psychogenic aphonia – sudden voice loss without organic cause
Who is particularly affected?
Voice disorders frequently affect professional voice users: teachers, educators, singers, actors, call centre staff and managers.
People who lose or significantly change their voice after surgery, an infection or during puberty also come to our practice.
Causes and risk factors
- Chronic overuse without sufficient vocal rest
- Incorrect vocal technique (e.g. speaking too low, pressing)
- Speaking in loud ambient noise
- Smoking and alcohol
- Dry air or inadequate fluid intake
- Gastro-oesophageal reflux as mechanical irritation of the vocal cords
- Psychological stress and chronic tension
Our approach
Before therapy begins we recommend – if not already done – a laryngoscopic examination (laryngoscopy) by an ENT specialist or phoniatrician to rule out organic causes.
Voice therapy includes body and breathing exercises, resonance work, optimising vocal technique and vocal hygiene measures. We also develop an individual voice care plan for professional use.
Therapy process
- 1Voice assessment and case history (profession, vocal load, symptoms)
- 2Review ENT findings or recommend referral
- 3Body and breathing work as a foundation
- 4Voice and resonance exercises
- 5Developing healthy vocal technique
- 6Vocal hygiene and prevention for everyday life
Frequently asked questions
My voice has been hoarse for weeks – when should I see a doctor?
Hoarseness lasting more than 3 weeks should always be assessed by an ENT specialist or phoniatrician to rule out organic causes. Voice therapy is then recommended as a follow-up.
Can vocal nodules be treated without surgery?
Speech therapy can reduce the vocal misuse that led to nodule formation. Whether surgery is needed is decided by the treating ENT specialist or phoniatrician.
I am a teacher and have daily voice problems – what can I do?
Occupational vocal load is a common cause of voice problems. We offer voice therapy with profession-specific exercises, as well as advice on vocal hygiene and equipment such as voice amplifiers.
What is recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and how is it treated?
Recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy is a paralysis of one or both vocal cord nerves, often occurring after thyroid or cardiac surgery. Speech therapy can support compensation by the healthy vocal cord and significantly improve voice quality.
Ready for the next step?
Book your first appointment online or get in touch with our practice in Erding.