Presbyphonia (Aging voice)
Causes
As part of the normal aging process, the muscles that sustain and support our vocal folds (cords), as well as the structure of the larynx (voice box), may alter and change. These changes, that can affect the way we use our voice and the way it sounds, usually occur after age 60.
Symptoms
If you have presbyphonia, you may experience:
- Occasional or frequent breaks in your voice
- Breathy voice
- Tension in the larynx
- Sudden interruptions in normal speech flow
- Reduced highs and lows in vocal range
- Reduced volume
- Hoarseness
- Vocal fatigue
The severity of symptoms varies from person to person. But even if your symptoms are initially mild, they may worsen over time if you don’t receive the appropriate treatment.
Treatment
An ENT doctor will first examine the larynx to evaluate the structure and functionality of your vocal folds. Depending on your specific problems, treatment options can include:
- Voice therapy to reduce symptoms; help you project your voice, use more efficiently with less effort
- Injections into the vocal cords
- Surgery
Voice and Swallowing
Vocal cord lesions- Vocal cord paresis/paralysis
- Presbyphonia (Aging voice)
- Spasmodic Dysphonia
- Professional Voice
- Vocal cord cancer
- Throat cancer
- Vocal Misuse and Abuse
- Laryngitis
- Swallowing difficulty (Dysphagia)
- Pain with swallowing (Odynophagia)
- Laryngopharyngeal / Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Zenker’s Diverticulum
- Cough
- Parkinson’s Disease related voice disorder
