From breathy confessions of love to thunderous howls of rage, the voice is used to express a spectrum of emotions. In addition to its emotional nuances, verbal communication provides a means of conveying information efficiently and effectively. Voice disorders put a considerable hindrance on a person's ability to communicate thoughts and feelings.
Vocal Nodules
The vocal chords of a person who overextends his voice can form callouses. The vocal chords, also known as vocal folds, are mucus membranes stretched across the cartilage of the larynx. These membranes vibrate to produce sound when air is exhaled while the folds are closed.
The New York University Voice Center explains that vocal nodules, also referred to as singer's nodes, can form on the edges of the vocal folds due to chronic abuse associated with improper use of the voice, including screaming.
Reflux Laryngitis
The acids that promote digestion in the stomach can promote dysfunction in the larynx. Reflux laryngitis occurs when digestive acids are regurgitated into the throat and voice box, where they irritate the vocal cords and cause voice disorders. Diet and timing of food consumption can influence reflux laryngitis, especially when caffeine, alcohol and mint are consumed, according to the University of Pittsburgh Voice Center.
Smoking
Exposure to smoke dries out the mucus membranes of the vocal folds and can cause irritation. This causes the quality of the voice to deteriorate. Smoking can also increase the likelihood of reflux laryngitis.
The need to clear the throat often increases with smoking. Clearing the throat provokes a violent slamming together of the vocal folds, which contributes to irritation. The negative impact of smoking on lung capacity also affects the voice and can lead to voice disorders.
Vocal Fold Paralysis
The nervous system controls the muscles that open and close the vocal folds. When nerve impulses to the vocal folds are compromised the laryngeal muscles cannot contract properly. They become fully or partially paralyzed, and the quality of the voice is influenced as well.
The American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery describes two nerves that directly affect the vocal folds: the superior laryngeal and recurrent laryngeal nerves. In approximately 50 percent of laryngeal nerve failure, the cause is unknown. In other cases surgical injury, tumors, or viral infections could cause paralysis of the vocal folds.
