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Understanding Voice Disorder Prevention
In Brief
As in any disease, prevention is the best medical strategy.
- It has no side effects
- It has no complications
- It has no associated downtime
- It is cost-effective
Successful voice disorder prevention strategies involve three levels of prevention:
Goals of Voice Disorder Prevention Strategies
| Level of Prevention |
Goal of Prevention |
Target Group |
First |
Maintaining good health and good function |
All |
Second |
Avoiding known risk factors that cause voice disorders |
At-risk group |
Third |
Avoiding the risk factor(s) that caused the voice disorder (as part of treatment and to prevent recurrence) |
Patients who have a voice disorder |
Two Aspects in Prevention of Voice Disorders
The two main aspects of prevention of voice disorders are:
- Avoiding the cause or causes of a voice disorder
- Maintaining good voice health through vocal hygiene
Avoiding the Causes of Voice Disorders
Many voice disorders are caused by risk factors that could have been prevented in the first place. For example, many voice disorders result from vocal overuse and/or misuse. Proper voice use, technique, and vocal health can minimize the risk of developing many voice disorders.
Voice Disorder Prevention Strategies When Risk Factor Is Known
| Risk Factor |
Voice Disorder |
Prevention Strategy |
Smoking |
Laryngeal cancer Reinke's edema |
Avoid smoking and both active and passive exposure |
Voice misuse and/or overuse ("voice abuse") |
Vocal fold nodules, polyps, cysts
Vocal fold hemorrhage
Vocal fold granuloma
Vocal fold scar |
Use proper voice technique Avoid trauma to vocal folds through voice misuse or abuse |
Backflow of stomach fluids to voice box |
Reflux laryngitis Vocal fold granuloma |
Adopt anti-reflux lifestyle changes
Take medication to prevent backflow |
Risk factors for different voice disorders are discussed in depth within specific topics on this site. (For more information, see Laryngeal Atypia and Early Cancer, Laryngeal Advanced Cancer, Laryngitis, Pediatric Voice Disorders, Reflux Laryngitis, Reinke's Edema, Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis, Spasmodic Dysphonia, Vocal Fold Granuloma, Vocal Fold Nodules, Polyps, Cysts, and Reactive Lesions, Vocal Fold Paresis/Paralysis, Vocal Fold Scarring, and Voice Dysfunction in Neurological Disorders.)
Maintaining Voice Health Through Vocal Hygiene
Preventive voice care, or vocal hygiene, is similar to the fields of physical fitness and dental hygiene. Maintenance of physical fitness is critical for success in athletics. Likewise, dental hygiene, which involves daily tooth and mouth care, is important to maintain dental health and achieve good long-term function.
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