What is the Meaning & Definition of aphonia
Aphonia means lack of voice, also used to refer to a voice off and
difficult to perceive, often it is confused with the dysphonia word
meaning hoarseness. Hoarseness is a
manifestation of a lesion in the larynx, is produced by the alteration
of normal vibration of the vocal cords caused by the passage of air
through them during exhalation. The most common
cause is inflammation of the larynx known as laryngitis, this is a
disease that can occur as a result of a viral infection or by overuse
of the voice in situations such as yelling, speaking or singing for
long time.
The acute laryngitis which are the product of an infection usually are accompanied by symptoms such as malaise, fever, runny nose, sore throat and dry cough, the latter is due to the simultaneous inflation of the respiratory tract after the larynx consisting of the trachea. In children there is a condition called Croup characterized by hoarseness and a dry cough that has been called barking cough by its resemblance to the bark.
Laryngitis can also be a condition that is sustained over time, as in the case of chronic laryngitis characteristic of smokers that it is rather a dysphonia. The voice of the smoker tends to be hoarse and fade with the passing of the day, is accompanied by a symptom of chronic bronchitis or EBPOC as it is cough with abundant mucous or purulent expectoration to morning dominance.
Some infections are able to cause ulcerative lesions on the vocal cords that affect voice, such is the case of tuberculosis, syphilis and the human papillomavirus (HPV) virus, in these cases the loss of voice tends to be permanent by structural lesion of the vocal cords.
The larynx may also seat of tumor benign lesions like nodules and polyps that arise frequently in teachers and speakers, as well as lesions of malignant character as the cancer that is a lesion which affects smokers most often.
It is also possible that the hoarseness is due to injuries of structures that are surrounding the larynx, such is the case of lesions of the thyroid gland, especially goiter or enlargement of the gland and the presence of cysts. Lesions of the artery aorta at the level of its staff are capable of producing voice for responsible for the mobility of the left vocal cord, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury.
Usually the voice disorders are due to benign causes and disappear spontaneously within few days, however, if this disorder persists or is accompanied by other symptoms it is necessary to visit the doctor, in this case the specialist responsible for the evaluation and treatment of lesions of the larynx and vocal cords is the Otolaryngologist.
The acute laryngitis which are the product of an infection usually are accompanied by symptoms such as malaise, fever, runny nose, sore throat and dry cough, the latter is due to the simultaneous inflation of the respiratory tract after the larynx consisting of the trachea. In children there is a condition called Croup characterized by hoarseness and a dry cough that has been called barking cough by its resemblance to the bark.
Laryngitis can also be a condition that is sustained over time, as in the case of chronic laryngitis characteristic of smokers that it is rather a dysphonia. The voice of the smoker tends to be hoarse and fade with the passing of the day, is accompanied by a symptom of chronic bronchitis or EBPOC as it is cough with abundant mucous or purulent expectoration to morning dominance.
Some infections are able to cause ulcerative lesions on the vocal cords that affect voice, such is the case of tuberculosis, syphilis and the human papillomavirus (HPV) virus, in these cases the loss of voice tends to be permanent by structural lesion of the vocal cords.
The larynx may also seat of tumor benign lesions like nodules and polyps that arise frequently in teachers and speakers, as well as lesions of malignant character as the cancer that is a lesion which affects smokers most often.
It is also possible that the hoarseness is due to injuries of structures that are surrounding the larynx, such is the case of lesions of the thyroid gland, especially goiter or enlargement of the gland and the presence of cysts. Lesions of the artery aorta at the level of its staff are capable of producing voice for responsible for the mobility of the left vocal cord, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury.
Usually the voice disorders are due to benign causes and disappear spontaneously within few days, however, if this disorder persists or is accompanied by other symptoms it is necessary to visit the doctor, in this case the specialist responsible for the evaluation and treatment of lesions of the larynx and vocal cords is the Otolaryngologist.