Nodules in the vocal cords are benign growths that occur as a result of an injury from excessive use of the voice, it is very common in teachers, speakers and singers, and the most common in women is due to the anatomy of the female larynx. .
This alteration would appear months after the misuse of the voice, and could be diagnosed by the otolaryngologist through the assessment of the symptoms presented by the individual and the observation of the vocal cords and larynx to the laryngoscope, allowing to observe these structures in more detail.
- Symptoms that may occur when a nodule exists in the vocal cords are: chronic snoring.
- Broken voice.
- Difficulty speaking.
- Frequent dryness.
- Throat irritation.
- And loss of voice volume.
Nodules in the vocal cords have several causes
Personalities who need to talk a lot, such as teachers, singers, actors, announcers, vendors or telephone operators, for example;
He speaks singing very often;
Speak in a lower-than-usual voice;
He speaks very quickly;
I speak very low, forcing my throat, throwing less my voice.
If the above symptoms haven’t gone away in 15 days, ideally to help your doctor perform an evaluation, children may also develop nodules in their vocal cords, especially those who are used to screaming.
To avoid the formation of another nodule, it is important to know how to use the voice correctly, using techniques that can be indicated by an otolaryngologist and speech therapist, such as:
Taking small drops of water, this allows you to keep your throat always hydrated, every time you teach in a place where you can’t use a microphone to amplify the tone of your voice;
Eat 1 apple before using much of your voice, before giving a class, because it clears your throat and your voice, as before giving a class, because it clears your throat and your voice;
Don’t yell, using other means to get attention;
Do not force your voice to speak louder, but master the art of making your voice heard, with vocational exercises;
Try to change the tone of the voice, for more serious or sharper, without the advice of the speech therapist;
Continue breathing through your nose, do not breathe through your mouth so as not to dry your throat;
Avoid eating chocolate before you have to use many voices, as this could thicken saliva and damage your voice;
Prefer food at room temperature because it’s too hot or too cold for your voice.
In addition, although there is apparently no proven relationship between smoking and the presence of nodules in the vocal cords, it is recommended not to smoke, as smoke causes irritation, carraspera and increases the risk of cancer.
Treatment involves resting the voice, avoiding the cause of the nodule, and performing vocal therapies, so you should help the speech therapist indicate a routine of exercises for vocal care, these exercises can be done at home to warm up and attenuate the voice, thus avoiding injury.
In the most severe cases, from which the nodule increases so much that it becomes very rigid, surgery may be needed to remove it, however, it may reappear, so it is important to follow the recommendations mentioned above to prevent it from popping up.