Voiceproblem.org: Glossary of Terms: A-E

Terms A-E

A B C D E

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A	Abductor SD (Ab-SD) Spasms in muscles that open vocal folds and interrupt speech, causing breathy or soundless voice breaks Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Acid and Enzymes Within the stomach, these are chemical substances that help break up (digest food). An increased level of acid (measured by low pH) can lead to stomach ulcers, heartburn and esophagitis. Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Acute New and relatively short in duration Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Advanced Laryngeal Cancer T3 = complete non-movement of one vocal fold; T4=invades thyroid cartilage or structures outside of the voice box Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Airway Symptoms Breathing complaints Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Anterior Commissure A dye used in photodynamic therapy that is activated and results in chemical alteration of said dye converting it to a form that can kill cells which contain the activated dye Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Aphasia A difficulty to verbally express words, although the individual knows what they want to say Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Aphonia Complete voice loss Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Articulation The place of junction between two or more bones in the family Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Artificial Ventilation Machine-assisted breathing Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Arytenoid Cartilages Pair of pyramid-shaped cartilages to which the vocal folds are attached in the back of the voice box; spaced well apart for normal breathing; come together for sound production Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Arytenoid Fixation Restricted joint motion of the arytenoid joint that can lead to abnormal sounding voice and even incomplete closure of the vocal folds, leading to aspiration Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Arytenoid Joint There is no definition on file for this term. Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Aspiration Choking or coughing when swallowing food, drink or even saliva that "goes down the wrong way" (entering the breathing passage) Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Axial Rotation An abnormal tilt of the vocal folds during high pitch sound-making Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM return to top
B	Barium Swallow Esophagram X-ray imaging of the food pipe during swallowing Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Barrett's Esophagus A specific type of abnormal surface appearance of the esophagus due to replacement of the normal surface cells; often seen as an ulcer and can be premalignant Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Basal Ganglia A part of the brain that is likely involved in SD; located deep in the cerebral hemisheres and the upper brainstorm Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Basement Membrane A layer of extracellular material upon which the surface cells rest Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Bilateral On both sides Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Biopsy A test in which a physician cuts a small piece of the possibly abnormal tissue to examine under a microscope Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Botulinum-A Toxin (BoTox) A short-lasting medical formulation that can be injected into the vocal fold to temporarily limit mobility (can be used to treat vocal fold granuloma Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Bronchoscopy Examination of the airway above the lungs using an instrument (scope) that also allows for biopsy and culture Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Broyle's Ligament The anterior commissure tendon (see anatomy) Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM return to top
C	Capillaries Blood vessels that connect larger vessels, and together form a network within the body Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Ceruloplasmin An important "player" in the metabolism of copper. It transports and maitains appropriate levels of copper in tissues. In Wilson's Disease, low levels of ceruloplasmin are seen. Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Chronic Long-term Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Chronic Cough A cough that has lasted an abnormally long time Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Chronic Intermittent Goes away, and then returns again—even several months to years later Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Compounding Conditions A condition that can complicate or make an existing abnormality worse Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Computed Tomography There is no definition on file for this term. Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Condyloma A papilloma; a wart-like growth Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Coup Deglotte Forceful starts to phonation Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM CT Scan Computed Tomography Scan Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM return to top
D	Delayed Esophageal Clearance When esophageal muscle contraction is weak or uncoordinated, moving the food into the stomach is delayed Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Delayed Emptying An abnormally slow movement of stomach contents into the small intestine (could be a sign of stomach muscle malfunction) Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Diagnosis The determination of the cause of a disease Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Diaphragm Muscle separating the chest and abdomen Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Diplophonia Double voice, sounds like a “gargle voice" Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Direct Laryngoscopy Direct visualization of the larynx by speculum/mirror or laryngoscope Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Distinguishable Sound Sound converted to voice and words Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Double-Probe pH Monitor a test that uses a small tube placed through the nose into the food pipe with two sensors that measure acid levels Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Dysarthria Difficulty forming words–presenting with imprecise consonants, hard-to-understand speech as seen with patients with stroke. Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Dysfluent Speech Abnormal speech pattern of stuttering or stammering Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Dyspepsia Heartburn or discomfort after eating Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Dysphagia Difficulty swallowing Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Dysphonia An impairment of voice Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Dysphonia Plica Ventricularis A condition in which sound is made using the false vocal cords Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Dysplasia A disorderly pattern of cell maturation Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Dyspnea Difficult breathing Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Dystonia A nervous system problem that causes involuntary movement; dystonia is not a psychological problem; spamodic dysphonia (SD) is a type of dystonia Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM return to top
E	Early Cancer T1=affects only one site on larynx, no spread, normal vocal fold motion; T2=involves more than one site of larynx, vocal fold function abnormal but still moving Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Edema Medical term for swelling within the body Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Effortful Phonation Need to work harder than usual to speak, sing, or do voice tasks Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Electrodes There is no definition on file for this term. Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Electrolarynx A handheld device that enables speech after a laryngectomy by producing an external vibration that mimics the vibration of the vocal cords. Using this vibration to create sound, the individual can then form words using their mouth, tongue, lips, and palate. Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Electromyographic Abnormalities Abnormalities in the electrical signals of the muscles of the larynx Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM EMG Electrode There is no definition on file for this term. Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Empiric Therapy Trial of treatment that often helps determine diagnosis Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Endoscope A specialized tube-scope to view the voice box Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Endoscopically Visualization of the esophagus and stomach using a camera at the end of a long tube that is inserted in through the mouth and throat Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Endoscopic Guided Approach Surgery performed "endoscopically" Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Endotracheal Intubation Trauma Irritation from placement of a breathing tube Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Endotracheal Tubes Breathing tubes Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Epithelium The layer of surface cells covering the larynx Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Erosive Esophagitis Inflammation and irritation along the food pipe that eats away at the surface Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Erythema Medical term for abnormal redness Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Esophageal Strictures Abnormal narrowings along the food pipe Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Esophagitis Inflammation of the esophagus Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Esophagus The "food pipe", connecting the back of the throat to the stomach Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Esophagoscopy Use of a specialized tube-scope (camera) to view the esophagus Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Esophagus (food pipe) Muscular "tube" that connects throat to stomach; actively moves swallowed food/drinks into the stomach Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Essential Vocal Tremor A "wobbly" or "shaky" voice characterized by breaks and stops occuring with regularity Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Excisional Biopsy The removal of part or all of the abnormal tissue for microscopic examiniation Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM Extralaryngeal Speech Techniques There is no definition on file for this term. Search for related articles at PubMed at the NLM return to top

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