Vocal fold trauma is damage to the vocal cords—the delicate tissues in your voice box that help you speak and sing. These vocal cords are made up of water, ligament, and muscle, and they vibrate hundreds of times per second when you talk. When you push your voice too hard or use it in ways it isn’t meant to be used, it can become injured.
Sometimes the injury happens suddenly, like after yelling at a party. This can cause swelling and temporary voice loss. In most cases, with proper rest and care, your vocal cords will heal, and your voice will return to normal. If your voice doesn’t improve within one to two weeks, you might need to see an ear, nose, and throat doctor.
Long-term vocal fold trauma occurs when your vocal cords are overused or abused over a long time. When they are chronically swollen, they lose their natural flexibility, and you have to use extra effort to speak. This extra strain creates a vicious cycle: more effort leads to more swelling and injury, which then requires even more effort to speak. Over time, this can lead to lasting changes such as nodules, scars, or thinning of the vocal cords (called vocal atrophy), which make it even harder to produce a strong, clear voice.
Treating chronic vocal fold injury usually involves two approaches. First, it is important to change how you use your voice. A speech-language pathologist or vocal therapist can help retrain you to use your voice in a healthier way, reducing muscle tension around the vocal cords. Second, medical treatment is used to control inflammation and help the tissues repair. In some cases, injuries like bleeding polyps might require surgery. Other factors such as allergies, acid reflux, and pollution can worsen inflammation, so managing these issues is also an important part of keeping your voice healthy.
Taking good care of your vocal cords is a lifelong commitment. With the right combination of voice therapy, medical treatment, and healthy habits, you can protect your voice and keep it strong throughout your life.
