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What is aphonia? -

Aphonia, also known as loss of voice, is when we are unable to speak at an audible volume. When this happens, we are unable to speak above a whisper, or speak at all.

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What is aphonia? -

The voices of those with aphonia may sound hoarse or different, and the person tends to raise their voice in order to be heard. Aphonia can happen gradually or suddenly.

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Aphonia or dysphonia? -

Dysphonia and aphonia are sometimes confused, as the symptoms are similar. But dysphonia is actually caused by a physical or structural problem, such as vocal cord issues.

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Aphonia or hoarseness? -

Hoarseness can be a symptom of aphonia, but it may have other underlying causes. A rough, raspy, or breathy voice doesn’t necessarily mean the person is aphonic.

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Psychogenic aphonia -

It is possible to suddenly lose one’s voice following a traumatic event or due to emotional or psychological stress. This is called psychogenic aphonia, or hysterical aphonia.

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Aphonia clericorum -

Unlike regular aphonia, aphonia clericorum occurs following a larynx injury, or when a disease affects the larynx (e.g. laryngeal cancer).

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Who’s affected by aphonia? -

American data is available, and it's estimated that about 3% to 9% of Americans deal with aphonia. Though it’s likely that the number is much higher, as many people don't seek medical assistance when they lose their voice.

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Symptoms -

The obvious symptom of aphonia is loss of voice, which means not being able to speak up and consequently not being able to be heard by others.

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Why it happens -

Aphonia is a functional voice disorder, meaning that, in normal circumstances, people who suffer from it usually have no problem speaking or being heard. Most cases of aphonia occur because the person did something that affected their voice.

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Anatomy of voice -

Our voices rely on a number of body parts, namely the respiratory system, larynx, throat, mouth, and nose. When coordination between these is disrupted, our voice is affected.

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Anatomy of voice -

The respiratory system is responsible for driving airflow, which is essentially the fuel that powers our voices. When we don’t breathe properly, using our voices may become difficult.

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Anatomy of voice -

Our vocal cords, also known as vocal folds, are located in our larynxes. The larynx houses a set of muscles called the phonatory muscles, which are responsible for moving our vocal cords together. Air from our lungs makes our vocal folds vibrate and, consequently, they create sound.

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Anatomy of voice -

The sound created through the vibration of our vocal cords then travels through our resonating cavities (throat, nose, and mouth). Anything that affects these body parts and/or disrupts this cycle can make us aphonic. Let’s take a look at some examples.

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Causes -

Did you attend a game and spend the entire event shouting from the top of your lungs, or perhaps you sang your heart out watching your favorite band? Either could easily lead to loss of voice. This is because you strained and pushed your vocal cords past their normal range and limit.

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Who's at risk? -

While many cases of aphonia can happen due to leisure activities, for some people it is an occupational hazard. Teachers, for example, can spend many hours raising their voices to get students’ attention, which can lead to loss of voice.

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Who's at risk? -

Factory workers and other people who work around machinery may also spend a great deal of time raising their voices.

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Who's at risk? -

Anyone who uses their voices for long periods of time is at risk of becoming aphonic. This includes singers and those who spend all day talking on the phone (e.g. telemarketers, customer support, etc.).

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Diagnosis -

Your healthcare provider may ask you when the symptoms started and about the circumstances that may have led to them. This may be followed by questions about how you use your voice, as well as your medical history and general health.

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Diagnosis: exams -

Depending on your personal circumstances, your healthcare provider may wish to examine your larynx. This may be done by performing a rigid laryngoscopy. This is when a tube is inserted into your mouth to allow the doctor to view your larynx.

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Diagnosis: exams -

Another possibility is a flexible laryngoscopy, which, unlike the aforementioned exam, makes use of a flexible tube. In this exam, your doctor may ask you to speak and make other sounds in order to view the larynx working.

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Treatment -

Treatment will depend on the specific situation, but it may include voice therapy as well as breathing and/or voice exercises.

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Treatment -

In the case of psychogenic aphonia, addressing the person’s mental health through therapy is often recommended in conjunction with speech therapy.

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Treatment -

Staying hydrated is really important, as is giving your voice a rest when you have the chance.

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Treatment -

There are natural treatments that may benefit those with aphonia, namely consuming warm herbal tea and honey.

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Prevention -

Aphonia is usually caused by either overusing or straining our voices, but there are a few things we can do to prevent this from happening. This includes avoiding talking for extended periods of time in noisy environments.

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Prevention -

Be mindful of shouting or screaming at sporting events and concerts, as well as during other occasions.

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Prevention -

Certain medications can dry out your vocal folds. These include some allergy and cold medications. Talk to your doctor about how these can affect your voice.

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Prevention -

Exercise is a great way to improve your breathing and, as such, it can have an impact on your voice.

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Prevention -

Consider amplification (e.g. a microphone) if your job requires you to speak louder than usual for long periods of time.

Sources: (Cleveland Clinic) (Verywell Health)

See also: Hollywood's most recognizable voices

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