I am a healthy 31 year old woman who has been singing for 15 years. For about the past year or so, I have found it rather painful to do so. I become extremely hoarse after minimal vocal warm-up and have heard other singers describe a condition they call nodules or calluses formed on one's vocal cords which must be surgically removed and may curtail a singing career. Could this explain my chronic vocal pain and hoarseness and might it have anything to do with my suffering from Benign positional vertigo more frequently lately? Thanks!
Reply: ------------------
I would recommend you see an otolaryngologist for an examination of your
vocal cords. Such an examination may require a special procedure known
as laryngeal videostroboscopy in which the vocal cords are examined
endoscopically with a stroboscopic light source and video camera. This
examination is often done with a speech therapist who assists in the
analysis of voice performance. While vocal cord nodules are certainly a
possible explanation for the voice problems you have experienced, there
are a variety of other conditions which can affect the voice and, in
particular, the professional voice. I have previously discussed such
voice problems in a previous message which you can access through the
"review" section of the ENT clinic under the title "vocal fatigue,
hoarseness" or directly at
http://ofcn.org/cyber.serv/hwp/hwc/ent/news/ent026.html.
However, I am not aware of any possible association between your voice
problem and benign positional vertigo.
--
Steve Dankle, MD
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Milwaukee, Wis
NOTICE: OFCN is not engaged in the rendering of professional medical services. The information contained on this system or any other OFCN system should not supplant individual professional consultation. It is offered exclusively as a community education service. Advice on individual problems must be obtained directly from a professional.
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