A lack of vibration will change the pitch and tone of your voice. Anyone can get vocal nodules, including children. But these growths are more likely to form in women between the ages of 20 and 50 and in boys. The increased risk in these groups of people may have to do with the size of their larynx. Singers can have a hard time reaching higher octaves because nodules reduce their range. Some people lose their voice entirely. To treat vocal nodules, you should see an otolaryngologist, also known as an ear, nose, and throat ENT doctor.
You might also see an allergist if you think allergies are causing or contributing to the problem. To view your vocal cords more closely, the doctor may place a special lighted scope through your nose or mouth into your larynx. Looking through this scope can help them see your nodules, which will look like rough patches on your vocal cords. You may be asked to talk at different pitches while the doctor watches your vocal folds vibrate.
This may be recorded on video. Treatment starts with vocal rest. Your doctor will tell you how long to rest. Voice therapy is another part of treatment. Phonomicrosurgery is used to treat vocal nodules. A surgeon uses tiny instruments and a microscope to remove nodules without damaging surrounding healthy tissue. To avoid getting nodules in the future, address the factors that cause them — such as smoking, stress, and overuse.
If you want to quit or reduce how much you smoke, ask your doctor about methods such as medication and counseling. Cigarette smoke dries out and irritates your vocal cords, preventing them from vibrating properly when you sing or speak. Smoking can also cause damaging acid from your stomach to back up into your throat and irritate it. Stress can also contribute to vocal nodules. When people are under stress, they may tighten the muscles in their throat and neck.
Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption , and allergies are among the factors that can contribute to the development of bumps on vocal folds. Most people with nodules first become aware of the problem when changes in vocal quality are noticed. Related signs and symptoms may include:.
Testing can be done to evaluate your vocal quality. A series of flashing lights produced by a stroboscope is sometimes used to observe the vocal cords as they move. Initial treatment usually involves giving vocal cords time to rest and heal and voice therapy. It can take a while for nodules to completely go away with methods like this. If more immediate results are desired, surgery may be performed to remove the nodules.
Lymph nodes are an important component of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system helps the body filter various substances from bodily fluids. Lymph nodes are small glands that assist in this task. Although many of these conditions are serious, for most people, lymphadenopathy does not have a serious cause. When they get much larger than that, doctors may diagnose lymphadenopathy, especially if the person has other symptoms.
Those may include:. In cases where the lymphadenopathy is due to a cancer or cancer-like condition, treatment options will typically include:. When swollen lymph nodes happen because of an autoimmune condition, doctors will typically recommend immune therapy or glucocorticoids.
Some medications can also cause swollen lymph nodes. If this occurs, doctors may recommend a change of medication. The vocal cords are two folds of tissue that vibrate at different frequencies when air moves through them.
This process is essential to speech. The most common cause of vocal cord nodules is overuse. This can happen when someone talks or sings too much or too loudly. When this occurs, the vocal cords can become swollen, which may lead to the formation of nodules. Because vocal cord nodules form on the inside of the larynx, their effects are usually heard before they are seen.
The main symptom of vocal cord nodules is a hoarser voice. These changes arise because the vocal cord nodules affect the frequency of the air that passes through the larynx. The most common and effective treatment for vocal cord nodules is to rest the voice.
This involves talking or singing less, and doing so at a lower volume. Vocal cord nodules tend to disappear quite quickly following rest. In some cases, doctors may recommend speech therapy. This can help some people control the intensity of their speech.
For example, people with hearing difficulties can benefit from speech therapy, as they may inadvertently speak quite loudly.
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