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Understanding the Disorder | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Frontiers
 Key Glossary Terms
Vocal Fold Lesions
Specific to this chapter; refers to vocal nodules, vocal polyps, and vocal cysts
Vocal Abuse
Normal vocal behaviors used in excess, leading to vocal fold injury (e.g., excessive loudness or cough)
Vocal Misuse
Abnormal vocal behaviors that cause stress or injury to the vocal folds (e.g., excess tension while speaking)
Vocal Overuse
Normal voice behavior that takes its toll with time (e.g., singer after many years of performing)
What are the symptoms of benign vocal fold lesions?
The most common symptom of a benign vocal fold lesion is a change in voice quality, ranging from mild to severe. The voice can be affected during speaking, singing, or both. Often, hoarseness will be associated with an increased effort to talk and subsequent fatigue or tiring of the voice with continued use. Other symptoms associated with vocal fold lesions include pain with talking (although unusual) or a “lump in the throat” feeling (globus). Pain and globus are only indirectly related to the benign vocal fold lesions; they are usually related to the compensatory mechanisms used to overcome the voice difficulties.
Common Symptoms Associated with Benign Vocal Fold Lesions
- Vocal fatigue
- Unreliable voice
- Delayed voice initiation
- Low, gravelly voice
- Low pitch
- Voice breaks in first passages of sentences
- Airy or breathy voice
- Inability to sing in high, soft voice
- “Hiss” sound
- Increased effort to speak or sing
- Hoarse and rough voice quality
- Frequent throat clearing
- Extra force needed for loud voice
- Voice “hard to find”
Symptoms in patients with vocal fold lesions persist. Although symptoms may sometimes increase and decrease depending on accompanying inflammation, they do not go away on their own.
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Advisory Note