Voice Disorders Treatment in Dubai

What are Voice Disorders?

When the pitch of the voice becomes loud and flat, it is called hoarseness of voice or voice disorder. The hoarse voice seems loud, ruffled, breathy, and strained. It occurs when the sound-producing part of the throat, the voice box, suffers friction. It happens because the lumps of the vocal folds in the voice box hinder the vibration of sound produced, altering voice quality, volume, and pitch. 

The palatine tonsils, which we commonly call tonsils, function as the body’s natural defence system against infection. They help to prevent the infection from going down to the throat. When they catch an infection, they swell and produce pain, and this condition of swollen tonsils is called tonsillitis.

Typically, tonsillitis subdues with salt-water gargle, medications, and sometimes on its own. However, it can also be very painful and problematic, requiring surgical removal of tonsils, called tonsillectomy. Dr Peter, one of the best tonsils doctors in Dubai, believes that tonsillectomy relieves painful symptoms of tonsillitis and ends its suffering.

What causes hoarseness of voice?

The two vocal folds in the voice box vibrate synchronously to produce normal voice and speech. If it doesn’t happen, they cause a voice disorder. Voice disorders happen due to:

  • Lumpy cancerous or non-cancerous growths
  • Swelling and inflammation in the vocal cords
  • Laryngitis
  • Benign polyps, nodules, or cysts affecting vocal cords
  • Neurological voice disorders 
  • Hormonal issues
  • Vocal cord weakness or paralysis
  • White and flaky patches in the throat (leukoplakia)
  • Excessive use of voice or voice misuse
  • Trauma in larynx
Voice Disorders in Dubai

Symptoms of voice disorders

Some common symptoms of voice disorders include:

  • Weak voice
  • Strained voice
  • Noisy breathing
  • Pain in the throat
  • High-pitched voice
  • Loss of speech when saying something in the flow
  • Feeling that lump in the throat vibrating as you say something
  • Vestibular neuritis or Labyrinthitis- Both are inner ear infections that cause inflammation in the inner ear and cause visual changes and spinning sensations.

Factors that might increase the risk of voice disorders

Some factors that can increase the risk of voice hoarseness include:

  • Aging
  • Allergy
  • Smoking
  • Screaming
  • Thyroid problems
  • Neurological disorders
  • Upper respiratory infections
  • Throat dehydration
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Diagnosis of Voice Disorders

Prolonged voice disorders can change the quality of your life and make you embarrassed to speak something. You need to consult an ENT specialist to properly diagnose and outline the hoarseness of voice treatment in Dubai for voice disorders. 

For diagnosis, Dr. Peter, one of the best ENT specialists in Dubai, will have the following tests.

Laryngoscopy

The doctor checks for inflammation or sticking of vocal cords in the larynx with a laryngoscope, a thing long flexible tube. He can do a video strobe laryngoscopy to check the condition of vocal cords in detail.

Laryngeal Electromyography

This test check the neural activity of voice box muscles, which might create voice disorder. The doctor performs several activities to activate dormant voice muscles.

Additional tests

Other tests include ENT, X-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans to determine other possible causes of voice disorder.

Treatment of Voice Disorders

Depending on the symptoms, causes, and diagnosis, the doctor refers to the following treatments or a combination of treatments as detailed below:

Voice Therapy

Voice therapy is the first line of treatment recommended to improve voice function through speech practice. The patient has to utter and repeat a word or syllable with the expert to practice communication and solidify the synchronization of the brain and voice box for speech.

Hormone Therapy

Hormone therapy is recommended if a voice disorder is caused due to thyroid problems or hormonal imbalances. The hormonal therapy includes prescription medications for throat treatment.

Vocal cord Injections

If the vocal cord muscle weakening is causing vocal cord disorders, then the doctor will give certain injections to stimulate vocal cord muscles. The injection intends to help the vocal cords vibrate normally and activate muscles that help create voice. The doctor might also give a botulism injection to treat muscle spasms in the throat.

Surgery for Voice Disorders

Surgery is considered the last option and recommended when other treatments are futile. The surgery removes benign or cancerous growths such as polyps, nodules, cysts, tumors, respiratory papillomatosis, and leukoplakia.

Temporary voice hoarseness can be alleviated with a simple warm water gargling or drinking warm beverages. However, prolonged voice hoarseness can be problematic and embarrassing. Meet Dr. Peter Baptista to discuss your voice hoarseness issues and seek the best voice disorders treatment in Dubai.