What Is Vocal Cord Paralysis?
Vocal cord paralysis occurs when one or both of your vocal cords fail to open or close properly. Normally, the vocal cords are closed when you swallow, open when you breathe, and close and vibrate when you use your voice. Vocal cord paralysis typically affects only one of the vocal cords, but, in rare cases, may occur in both vocal cords.
Vocal cord paralysis occurs when one of several nerves responsible for opening, closing, and adjusting the tension in your vocal cords suffers damage and can no longer transmit a signal to the muscles controlling your vocal cords.
The nerves may become damaged due to inflammation from a viral infection, an injury during surgery in the neck or chest, direct pressure on the nerve from cancerous and noncancerous tumors, autoimmune diseases, strokes, and other neurological conditions.
However, in half of all patients diagnosed with vocal cord paralysis, the reason for their nerve damage can't be determined.
Depending on the cause of vocal cord paralysis, the condition may be temporary or permanent. In some cases, the condition may resolve after several weeks to months. If the vocal cord shows no signs of movement for more than 6 – 12 months, it usually means that the vocal cord paralysis is permanent. In both cases, your Beach Cities ENTS doctor can provide expert, state-of-the-art care to help you get your voice back. Reach out to our ENT specialists in Torrance or El Segundo, CA to get started.
What Symptoms Develop Due to Vocal Cord Paralysis?
The symptoms of vocal cord paralysis fall into three broad categories:
- Voice disorders: Your voice changes, becoming rough, raspy, or breathy. You may feel like you can only get a few words out before having to take a breath.
- Airway problems: Many patients feel short of breath when speaking or when they get active. Additionally, your breathing may sound noisy. In rare cases, especially when both vocal cords are affected, vocal cord paralysis may make it very difficult to breathe.
- Swallowing disorder: Food may stick in your throat, or you may choke or cough when swallowing food or beverages. People with vocal cord paralysis cannot close their vocal cords all the way when swallowing, so food and liquids can get into the air passages and lungs more easily, causing serious health problems.
How Is Vocal Cord Paralysis Treated?
Your doctor at Beach Cities ENTS can diagnose vocal cord paralysis by taking a detailed history and performing an ear, nose, and throat exam, followed by a simple procedure in the office called flexible laryngoscopy or high-resolution video stroboscopy.
A detailed evaluation of the voice itself will also be done to customize the best treatment for you.
There are three primary types of treatments for vocal cord paralysis:
- Voice therapy: Voice therapy may improve your vocal cord function well enough to avoid or delay the need for a procedure or surgery. In most cases of vocal cord paralysis, however, a procedure or surgical treatment may be recommended.
- Vocal cord injection: The most common treatment for vocal cord paralysis is injection of a filler material into the paralyzed vocal cord. This highly specialized procedure temporarily moves the vocal cord into a better position, which allows it to contact the healthy vocal cord and produce a strong voice again. In the past, vocal cord injections were traditionally done in the operating room under general anesthesia. However, the doctors at Beach Cities ENTS offer expert-level care and are specially trained in performing awake vocal cord injections in the office. These in-office injections require virtually no downtime and require little to no preparation. Vocal cord injections, also known as injection laryngoplasty or injection augmentation, are a great option for short-term treatment of vocal cord paralysis.
- Surgery: If your vocal cord paralysis does not recover within 6 – 12 months, your doctor at Beach Cities ENTS may recommend a surgical procedure for long-term improvement in your voice, including structural implants (type 1 thyroplasty or medialization laryngoplasty), vocal cord repositioning (arytenoid adduction), or reinnervation.
If you develop voice changes lasting more than one week or following a surgical procedure, or if you have been diagnosed with vocal cord paralysis, call Beach Cities ENTS or schedule an appointment online today. Our ear, nose, and throat doctors offer specialized care for patients throughout Torrance and El Segundo, CA.
Beach Cities ENTS Reviews
Very knowledgeable and personable - She has been seeing our son since he was one year old for ongoing ENT-related issues. She has helped us navigate complicated issues and seems to favor lowest level of intervention medically required, which we prefer. She always seems genuinely happy to see her patients and she is good with him. We will continue to see her only as long as she is practicing.
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Dr. Levine was great. My Son had surgery and he made us feel comfortable and confident throughout the entire process. He even called on a Sunday to see how he was doing. He was professional, caring, and took the time to answer all of our questions. I am in healthcare and am really particular. The office staff was also friendly, welcoming, and efficient, making every visit a pleasant experience. I highly recommend Dr.Levine and his entire team.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What causes vocal cord paralysis, and is it treatable?
Vocal cord paralysis occurs when the nerve controlling one or both vocal cords is damaged — common causes include surgical trauma to the neck or chest (such as thyroid or heart surgery), viral infection, tumors pressing on the vagus or recurrent laryngeal nerve, and neurological conditions. In many cases the cause is identified and treated, and some patients recover vocal cord movement over 6–12 months. For those who don't recover spontaneously, several effective treatment options are available.
What treatment options does Beach Cities ENT offer for vocal cord paralysis?
Treatment depends on whether the paralysis is unilateral (one cord) or bilateral (both cords), the degree of voice and swallowing impairment, and whether spontaneous recovery is expected. Options include vocal cord injection augmentation (a quick in-office procedure to bulk up a paralyzed cord and improve voice quality immediately), laryngoplasty (a surgical procedure to permanently reposition the cord), and voice therapy.
Is vocal cord paralysis permanent?
Not necessarily. When paralysis results from nerve injury or viral infection, spontaneous recovery occurs in a significant proportion of patients within 6–12 months. During this waiting period, voice therapy and temporary vocal cord injection can dramatically improve voice quality and swallowing. Permanent surgical procedures are typically deferred until recovery potential has been adequately assessed.
How quickly should I seek treatment for a newly paralyzed vocal cord?
Promptly — ideally within a few weeks of onset. Early evaluation allows us to identify the cause, assess the severity of voice and swallowing impairment, and initiate temporary measures to improve your voice while we monitor for recovery. If aspiration (food or liquid entering the airway) is a concern, this is especially urgent. Call our office and describe your symptoms when scheduling.
What is the difference between vocal cord paralysis and vocal cord nodules?
Vocal cord nodules are benign growths that form on the cords from voice overuse or misuse — they cause a rough, breathy voice over time. Vocal cord paralysis is a movement problem caused by nerve damage — the cord itself is normal, but it doesn't move properly. Both cause voice changes, but they are diagnosed and treated very differently. Laryngoscopy at our office can distinguish between the two definitively.
