Vocal Cord Nodules are benign (i.e. unrelated to cancer) growths that occur on the free surface where the vocal cords come into contact with each other. They occur due to misuse or misuse of the voice. Since they develop as a result of using the voice for a long time, at the wrong volume, at the wrong pitch, or with inappropriate force, they can be roughly compared to calluses that form on our hands or feet. It is seen much more frequently in individuals who use their voices professionally, such as teachers, voice artists, announcers, call center workers, and religious officials, compared to other segments of society.
Symptoms of vocal cord nodule are generally hoarseness, change in voice, and cracked voice. and coarsening of the voice. The professional voice user may state that their voice sounds lower pitched or that their voice is more breathy and raspy than normal. In addition to the change in their voice, individuals may complain of pain in the muscles around the neck, difficulty speaking or even swallowing with increased voice use.
During speaking, the vocal cords of an ordinary man hit each other an average of 120 times per second and the vocal cords of a woman 200 times per second. . For this reason, the vocal cords are the soft tissue of the body that is most exposed to trauma.
In case of hoarseness lasting more than 2 weeks in individuals who do not use their voice professionally, it is necessary to consult a voice physician. It is necessary to consult a professional voice physician. The user usually does not have the luxury of waiting that long. After your voice doctor listens to your complaints and has sufficient information about your voice health and general medical history, he will want to know your professional voice expectations in detail. When talking about professional voice, the individual whose diagnosis and treatment is sought does not necessarily have to be a voice artist. In fact, most professional groups express themselves and their jobs with their voices throughout the day. These include teachers, lawyers, call center employees, those who need their voices to serve their customers such as banks, municipalities, post offices, shop assistants, tradesmen, religious officials and many other professional groups.
Detailed examination of your voice and vocal cords. with (for which the ideal dual laryngovideostroboscopy and objective If voice analysis) it is possible to diagnose a vocal cord nodule and determine its cause.
The two main methods of nodule treatment are voice therapy and surgery.
A voice problem due to poor or incorrect use of the voice. The ideal way to treat the nodule is to discontinue using the voice in this way. Developing habits to use the voice correctly and using the correct vocal technique to prevent excessive pressure on the vocal cords will both shrink and even disappear the nodules and eliminate the risk of recurrence. The main method that teaches the correct use of the voice is voice therapy.
Some nodules are extremely resistant to treatments, including voice therapy. Nodules that do not improve despite proper voice technique, strictly followed voice hygiene rules and even voice therapy are treated with special surgeries called phonomicrosurgery, performed through a microscope under general anesthesia.
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