Do you sometimes feel like your voice doesn't come out properly when you speak? Or, have you suddenly become hoarse, can only speak in a low whisper, or maybe even lost your voice completely? This is really annoying and scary, isn't it? Because our voice is the main way we communicate with others. So today we will talk about this in a little more detail. Doctors call this condition aphonia.
What exactly is Aphonia?
Simply put, aphonia is the loss of your voice. That is, you can barely hear it when you speak. Your voice may become hoarse, or you may speak very slowly, like a whisper. Sometimes, your voice may be completely lost. Others may feel that their voice is strange and different, and may even be reluctant to speak. This is considered a voice disorder. Most often, this condition is seen in people who often raise their voices and shout. However, there is nothing to worry about, as doctors can treat it with voice therapy exercises.
Who is most affected by this condition of aphonia?
Researchers estimate that between 3% and 9% of the population in countries like the United States is affected by aphonia. However, some doctors believe that the number could be much higher, as many people do not seek medical advice when they lose their voice. So, there may be people with this condition in Sri Lanka as well, but there may be no accurate statistics about it.
What are the symptoms of Aphonia?
The main and most obvious symptom of this is that the voice does not come out loud or the words are not heard. Sudden loss of voice is another symptom of aphonia. Sometimes, only the voice is lost without any pain in the throat. It is also possible that the throat feels tight when trying to speak.
How does our voice develop?
Although speaking may seem like a simple thing, it is actually a delicate process that requires the coordination of several parts of our body. Just think, this requires our respiratory system, larynx, throat, nose, and mouth to all work together.
1. Respiratory System: First of all, the air that comes from our lungs is the energy for the voice. It's like fuel for a car. If we don't breathe properly, that is, if we don't breathe deeply and in a controlled manner, voice problems can occur.
2. Larynx and Vocal Cords: The larynx, or voice box as we call it, is located at the top of our throat. Inside this is the vocal cords, which are two very thin membranes. These are also called the vocal folds. The larynx has a special group of muscles called the phonatory muscles . These muscles move the vocal cords closer and further apart.
3. How sound waves are created: When we exhale, air from the lungs travels rapidly through the vocal cords that are close together. Then these vocal cords begin to vibrate. Just like the strings of a guitar vibrate. This vibration is what creates the basic sound waves.
4. Resonating Cavities: These sound waves then travel through the spaces inside our throat, nose, and mouth. These spaces are called Resonating Cavities . It is through these that our voice gets its special quality, clarity, and power. Just like the parts of a loudspeaker.
So if there is a slight change anywhere in this process, it can cause problems with our voice.
What are the causes of aphonia?
Aphonia is considered a functional voice disorder . This means that people with this condition may have a physical condition, i.e. a major disorder or disease of the throat or vocal cords. However, the loss of voice is due to some abnormality in the way they use their voice, i.e. the way they manipulate their voice.
What activities damage the voice and cause problems?
You've probably heard from experience that if you watch a cricket match for an hour and scream at the top of your lungs, your throat will hurt and your voice will drop. Doctors call this phonotrauma , which means damage to the voice.
Also, some people can damage their voices because of their job. Doctors call this vocal fatigue . Check out these examples:
- Teachers: Teachers who speak loudly all day to get the children's attention and teach them to be heard.
- Factory workers: People who constantly shout and talk over the noise of loud machines so that others can hear them. Imagine someone talking over the noise of machines in a garment factory.
- Telephone service providers: People who spend most of their day on the phone, for example, those who work in call centers.
- Professional speakers and singers: People who use their voice as their livelihood.
All of these people need to be very careful about their voices.
What is Psychogenic Aphonia?
Sometimes, people can lose their voice without any physical cause. This is called psychogenic aphonia or psychogenic conversion aphonia . This is caused by a major trauma, emotional or psychological stress, or a traumatic event. People with this condition have no problems with their vocal cords, but they can only speak in a very low, hoarse voice. This is when their voice suddenly disappears.
Important: Both the terms psychogenic aphonia and hysterical aphonia describe loss of voice due to psychological stress. There is no physical problem with the larynx.
How do doctors diagnose aphonia?
When you go to see a doctor with a voice problem, he will first ask you a few questions. For example:
- They ask you to describe what the problem is with your voice.
- When did this problem start?
- Is the voice problem constant, or does it come and go? (Even if you can't speak normally, your doctor will find ways to tell your story, perhaps even have you write it down.)
In addition, they will ask about your medical history and general health . They may also ask about how you use your voice throughout the day. Doctors call this daily voice hygiene .
What tests are done to diagnose this condition?
The doctor may want to examine your larynx. This may include tests such as:
- Rigid Laryngoscopy: In this, a small, thin, straight tube-like instrument (endoscope) is inserted through the mouth, and the larynx is examined by tilting the tongue to the side. This may feel a little uncomfortable, but it is a quick test.
- Flexible Laryngoscopy: In this procedure, a thin, flexible tube is passed through the nose and down the back of the throat. Before the procedure, a numbing medicine is applied to the nose, so it is not very uncomfortable. The doctor can ask you to talk, sing, or cough, and watch how your larynx works. This allows you to see the vocal cords moving very clearly.
These tests can check for swelling, lumps, abnormal growths, or if the vocal cords are not functioning properly.
How is Aphonia treated?
Doctors usually treat aphonia with voice therapy . Your doctor may refer you to a speech therapist.
The speech therapist will create a treatment plan tailored to your condition. This may include things like:
- Correct breathing exercises: How to get the right amount of strength for your voice.
- Voice exercises: How to use the voice without damaging the vocal cords, how to control the pitch and loudness of the voice.
- Exercises that relax the muscles of the throat and neck.
- Vocal Hygiene Tips: Do's and Don'ts to Protect Your Voice.
How is Psychogenic Aphonia treated?
Psychogenic aphonia is a loss of voice due to stress. So, when treating this, doctors recommend a combination of mental health therapy (Mental Health Therapy / Counseling) and speech therapy . The important thing here is to find the cause of the stress and treat it, while doing the necessary exercises to regain the voice.
Is there a homeopathic treatment for Aphonia?
Homeopathic treatments usually focus on relieving physical symptoms, such as hoarseness. For example, a warm drink made with lemon water, honey, and thyme is used. However, it is important to consult your doctor before adding these remedies to your treatment plan. He or she knows what is best for your condition, and these may not be suitable for you.
How to prevent aphonia?
Aphonia is often caused by overuse of the voice or by a strained throat. Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do to protect your voice, even if your job requires you to speak loudly. Check out these suggestions:
- Practice proper breathing: Breathe deeply, from your chest and diaphragm, and give your throat a break. Short, shallow breaths can strain your throat muscles.
- Use a microphone if possible: If your job requires you to speak loudly all the time, consider using a small personal microphone. This is very useful for teachers and speakers.
- Avoid long conversations in noisy places: Avoid talking for long periods of time in crowded, noisy places, such as at a concert, in a factory, or on a bus. This is because you will have to speak louder to overcome the noise.
- Use other methods instead of shouting: At sporting events, concerts, etc., instead of shouting, use clapping, whistling (but be careful), or other methods to show your support.
- Don't cough frequently to clear your throat: Frequent, loud coughing can damage your vocal cords. Try drinking some water.
- Avoid smoking: Smoking is not only bad for your voice, but also for your entire body. Also, being around people who smoke (passive smoking) is not good.
What happens if I have aphonia?
In most cases, people with aphonia can regain their lost voice after speech therapy . If you have aphonia, it can be very helpful to learn how to protect your voice. Don't lose hope, with proper treatment, you can recover.
How do I take care of myself?
Aphonia is a condition that occurs when the voice becomes strained. So, once you get your voice back, here are some things you can do to keep it in good shape:
- Stay hydrated: Drinking water throughout the day can help prevent your throat from drying out. Your vocal cords need moisture. Try to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.
- Take vocal naps: Give your voice a break whenever possible. Instead of talking all day long, find short periods of silence.
- Avoid medications that dry out your vocal cords: If you are taking cold or allergy medications, ask your doctor about medications that won't dry out your vocal cords. Some antihistamines and decongestants can dry out your throat.
- Exercise regularly: Exercising improves your breathing, which is also good for your voice.
- Limit caffeine and alcohol: These things can dehydrate the body, which is not good for the throat.
What is the difference between Aphonia and Dysphonia?
Although these two words are somewhat similar, there is a slight difference.
- Dysphonia: This is when there is a problem with the structure of your mouth, tongue, throat, or vocal cords. For example, conditions such as vocal cord nodules or polyps, vocal cord paralysis, or velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) can cause dysphonia. The voice may be hoarse, broken, or weak.
- Aphonia: In this, your vocal structure is usually fine, meaning there is no major impairment. However, the loss of voice occurs due to a problem with the way you use your voice, that is, the way you manipulate your voice. This is a more severe condition than Dysphonia, as the voice is almost completely lost.
Simply put, dysphonia is an abnormality of the voice, while aphonia is the complete or partial loss of the voice.
What is this Aphonia Clericorum?
Aphonia Clericorum is the loss of voice after an injury to your larynx, or a disease of the larynx, such as laryngeal cancer . This is different from the previously mentioned functional aphonia, because here there is structural damage to the larynx itself.
Finally, things to remember (Take-Home Message)
Losing our voice is a huge loss for many of us. Being able to speak and express ourselves is what connects us to others. Losing our voice can sometimes mean losing our livelihood. So, suddenly losing our voice can be a huge shock.
Aphonia is a condition that occurs when you use your voice incorrectly, that is, when you overuse it. If you are diagnosed with aphonia, speech therapy can often help you regain your voice and learn how to maintain it. There is nothing wrong with raising your voice, but you should do so without damaging it to the point of losing it.
If you have any concerns or concerns about your voice, never hesitate to talk to a doctor. He or she will listen to you and help you. Remember, the sooner you get treatment, the sooner you can recover!
` Aphonia, loss of voice, hoarse voice, voice training, speech therapy, larynx, vocal cords
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