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Conditions and Diseases > Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Forum > Vocal chord damage & treatment : surgery or voice therapy ?
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Q: Vocal chord damage & treatment : surgery or voice therapy ?
asked by: DoctorQuestion on June 12th, 2007
I have a high pitch noise wheni am asleep usually in deep sleep. Also when i am doing an activity like running i get out of breath because my vocal chords close up (im not sure how fully) and i get out of breath quite easily. i go to the starship (NZ) about once a year for checkup and they dont really say much, but they have told me i have partial paralysis of vocal chords, and i can have surgery if i want. i would like to know if i will grow out of it or if i should have the surgery. Also i would like to know the risks of it because they said it could change my voice.
Thanks :)


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DoctorAnswerDoctor Answer
replied on June 18th, 2007
Ear, Nose & Throat Disorders Answer A2925
The treatment of vocal chord paralysis depends upon the cause of the paralysus, severity of the symptoms and the time from the onset of the symptoms. Treatment includes voice therapy, surgery or both. Voice therapy is often the first treatment option. Even when nothing can be done to heal nerve damage that can cause the paralysis, the function of the larynx can improve. This can be done by a speech therapist . If surgical treatment is necessary, it includes bulk injection, medialization thyroplasty or tracheotomy. There might be differences in the voice after the surgery, but these can be improved by speech therapy.




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