Muscle Tension Dysphonia - Maximed Turkey

What Is Muscle Tension Dysphonia?

Muscle tension dysphonia is a condition that results in the weakening of the muscles around the vocal cords. This weakening causes hoarseness, or an abnormal sound coming out of your voice.

There are two types of muscle tension dysphonia:

Tension-type dysphonia, which can cause chronic coughing and choking sensation during a speech, as well as possible changes in pitch, volume, and breathiness. It does not have any connection to neurological disease or cough reflex malfunction.

Vocal cord paralysis type dysphonia, which can be associated with recurrent laryngeal nerve damage that causes unstable voice quality.

Muscle tension dysphonia is a condition that affects mainly women aged over sixty. It can be caused by laryngitis, chronic coughs, or by misuse of the voice.

A person with muscle tension dysphonia may experience a hoarse voice quality, breathiness, and a change in pitch during speech. In some cases, they may have difficulty swallowing and breathing.

Another possible cause of muscle tension dysphonia is a vocal strain or misuse of the voice caused by incorrect breathing techniques during speech. There are three types of breathing techniques everyone should use when speaking:

Muscle tension dysphonia is often misdiagnosed. This is because the symptoms are similar to other vocal disorders, such as vocal fatigue or laryngitis, or caused by gastroesophageal reflux. To get an accurate diagnosis, your healthcare provider will conduct a physical examination of the voice box and voice-producing mechanism.

He/she will also perform a laryngoscopy, which allows him/her to observe the condition of the vocal cords directly.

A videofluoroscopy is another procedure that your healthcare provider can use to look for possible signs of muscle tension dysphonia on the images of your voice box.

Treatment is needed to improve voice quality and improve vocal function. Your doctor will need to advise you about the appropriate voice treatments for you. Possible treatments include:

As with any type of dysphonia, your doctor needs to rule out other causes of your dysphonia before making a diagnosis.

This will ensure that the treatment that is most appropriate for you is used at the first stage of treatment.

Some medications can be used to help with muscle tension dysphonia, but they are not suitable for everyone, especially if they are pregnant or have liver problems. There are lots of options available to choose from, including steroid injections, orally administered steroids, or inhaled steroids.

What Causes Muscle Tension Dysphonia?

Muscle tension dysphonia is a condition that occurs due to the weakening of the muscles around the vocal cords. The weakened muscles cause abnormal sounds, such as a hoarse voice or a change in pitch during speech.

This problem can be caused by several factors, including respiratory infections, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), smoking, and other health problems.

Can I Get Muscle Tension Dysphonia From Speaking? Can I Pass It On To My Child?

Although muscle tension dysphonia usually affects women aged over sixty, it can affect people of any age. Muscle tension dysphonia is not the result of overusing your voice, nor can it be transmitted to others.

Muscle tension dysphonia occurs when the muscles around the vocal cords are weakened due to other causes. The weakened muscles cause variations in pitch during speech or hoarseness in your voice.

How Can I Prevent Muscle Tension Dysphonia?

There is no known way to prevent muscle tension dysphonia, as it can be caused by several factors. However, you should avoid doing any activities that may harm your throat or voice, for example, smoking or yelling at high volumes.

These activities can add pressure to the throat, which may add to the condition. You should also speak from a lower position when giving a speech or talking to others. This will help avoid straining your vocal cords when speaking for a long time.

How Is Muscle Tension Dysphonia Treated?

Muscle tension dysphonia is a vocal disorder that requires several different treatments to improve voice quality and function. Your healthcare provider will advise you on the appropriate treatment for you, but in some cases, surgery is required to treat the causes of the condition.