Vocal fold nodules: Treatment, symptoms, advice and help

Causes

• Repetitive Strain injury to the vocal folds through harsh, tight or forced voice production, resulting in little calluses/corns on the vocal folds. There are usually a pair of nodules due to the rubbing action of the vocal folds rather than their normal smooth vibration together.
• Excessive throat clearing or coughing.
• Vocal tract tension.
• Poor voice care.
• Overuse.

Symptoms

• Hoarse voice.
• Increased force to project normal voice levels.
• Deeper pitch.
• Reduced pitch range.
• Inconsistent vocal durability.
• No pain.

Likely candidates

• Professional voice users( people who need their voice for their job)
• Singers, actors, teachers, solicitors, barristers, recruitment consultants, salesmen, people who use the telephone a lot during their working day.
• Vocal nodules are also possible in children and are usually due to excessive shouting such as at football practice, or a forceful speech manner.

Treatment

• Identification and removal of causative voice abuse habits.
• Relaxation of the vocal tract through increased voice care and specific stretches.
• A speech technique aimed at opening the back of the throat during speech to reduce the tension building up which has contributed to the nodules, such a technique will also aim to free the natural voice a little more.
• Breathing work to relax the voice throat and individual.
• Posture advice is provided to reduce neck and shoulder tension which has a tightening effect on the voice.
• Tips on how to produce volume in a safe way without causing vocal damage.