Vocal cords, or vocal folds, are two, small muscle tissues situated in your voice box. They help in producing voice. Vocal nodules are small bumps that develop on the vocal cords due to misuse and excessive straining of your voice. They can cause your voice to become rough and scratchy. If you have these symptoms, your doctor may advise you to rest your voice and avoid overuse.
Voice Abuse
Nodules are usually seen on both the vocal folds. They may become small or disappear when you stop overusing your voice. Your doctor will diagnose them by examining your throat with a special, thin, flexible tube.
These nodules are commonly seen in singers, teachers and politicians. They develop from overtaxing the voice in people who scream, yell and sing. Hence, they are also called singers or screamers nodules. Singers have trouble singing, are unable to sing loudly and their pitch range is reduced. Those with nodules have to put in extra effort to speak or to sing.
Hoarseness
Nodules can result in a change in voice. Your voice becomes hoarse, rough and harsh over the following days or weeks. During normal speech, the vocal folds come together, and voice is produced. If nodules are present, the folds do not close and vibrate properly. This results in an escape of extra air and an airy and breathy sound while talking.
Voice Fatigue
According to the Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, nodules are one of the most common causes of voice problems. Your voice tires easily if you have nodules.
With vocal cord nodules, there may be a delay in the initiation of your voice--your voice is produced much later than when you begin to talk. There can also be breaks in your speech when you talk.
Other Symptoms
With vocal cord nodules, you may feel there is something stuck or a sensation of a lump in your throat. This can result in frequent clearing of your throat. However, there is not any pain in your throat. As per the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, there can be a shooting pain in your ear. Very rarely, you can get neck pain due to vocal cord nodules.
If the nodules are small, giving rest to your voice is advised. A speech therapist can train you to use your voice properly. When the nodules do not regress and are large, your doctor may advise you to have an operation to remove them.
