The 4 Basic Principles That Underly a Hoarse Voice [VIDEO]

A new video has been created showing what the 4 underlying principles that lead to a hoarse voice are. Examples of the different types of hoarse voice are also shown. By understanding these principles, one can have a better understanding of what may be going on if the voice becomes raspy or hoarse. Here are a few of the different types of vocal cord pathology shown in the video: • Vocal cord bowing • Vocal cord paralysis • Vocal cord polyp • Vocal cord pre-nodules • Vocal cord nodul…

10/29/2017 0

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Vocal Cord Changes Throughout the Menstrual Cycle

It is not unheard of that a fertile female singer experiences slight fluctuations in the quality of the voice throughout the menstrual cycle. In particular, in the immediate premenstrual period, up to 40% of female singers may note a deeper shift in the vocal range, tone inaccuracy, and/or tendency to develop vocal cord hemorrhage . Such vocal changes are hypothesized to be secondary to the affect of estrogen and progesterone on the vocal fold tissues, and especially any blood vessels that …

6/15/2017 0

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Video of the Human Voicebox in Action!

In honor of World Voice Day on April 16, 2017, I have created a new video showing how the voicebox is examined using a fiberoptic endoscope threaded through the nose. I created the first version of this video back in 2007 and given better and newer technology, I have decided to do a refresh including more info and examples. Of course, the video and audio quality is also way better compared to a decade ago. Check it out!

4/14/2017 0

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Beyonce Cancels Concert Due to Voice Problem

Image by Nat Ch Villa on Wikipedia On Sept 6, 2016,  Beyonce  announced that she is postponing her concert scheduled for 9/7/16 in New Jersey until 10/7/16 due to "strict doctor's orders for  vocal rest ." Details are sparse in media reports, but given the voice rest order is for only a few weeks, I suspect it's due to laryngitis of some kind, whether bacterial or viral. If  nodules ,  polyps ,  cyst , etc. were present, voice rest would have been for several months (r…

9/07/2016 0

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Can Acupuncture Treat Vocal Cord Lesions?

According to Chinese researchers , acupuncture certainly can help with phono-traumatic vocal cord lesions ( nodules , polyps , or chronic laryngitis). In their study , 123 patients with these pathologies were than divided into genuine acupuncture, fake acupuncture, and no acupuncture groups. The genuine acupuncture group received needles in nine voice-related acupoints for 30 minutes, two times a week for 6 weeks, whereas the fake acupuncture group received blunted needles that merely stimu…

8/26/2015 0

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Donny Osmond Undergoes Vocal Cord Surgery

On August 11, 2015, Donny Osmond underwent vocal cord surgery to remove a hemorrhagic polyp.  The year 2015 is turning out to be a doozy for injured vocal cords with 4 other celebrity singers being sidelined for vocal cord injuries. • Miranda Lambert - July 2015 •  Meghan Trainor  - July 2015 •  Chad Kroeger  - June 2015 •  Sam Smith  - April 2015 •  Nathan Sykes  - April 2013 •  Nicki Manaj  - August 2012 •  Florence Welch  - July 2012 •  Maxwell  - June 2012 •  Keith Urban  - Nov…

8/24/2015 0

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Miranda Lambert Cancels Calgary Show Due to Vocal Cord Inflammation

Image by Dave Hogg of Wikipedia It was only last week that pop singer Meghan Trainor cancelled her shows due to vocal cord hemorrhage. Now country singer Miranda Lambert has done the same, but due to vocal cord hemorrhage. She adds to a growing list of singers who have had to cancel shows/tours due to vocal cord problems: • Meghan Trainor - July 2015 •  Chad Kroeger  - June 2015 •  Sam Smith  - April 2015 •  Nathan Sykes  - April 2013 •  Nicki Manaj  - August 2012 •  Florence We…

7/09/2015 0

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Meghan Trainor Suffers Vocal Cord Hemorrhage and Cancels Concerts

Image by Ronald Woan of Wikipedia Media  reported July 3, 2015 that Meghan Trainor of "All About The Base" fame is canceling upcoming concerts due to a painful vocal cord hemorrhage. Readers may recall that this was the same issue that affected Adele in 2011. She is currently on  voice rest , but I would not be surprised if she ultimately pursues surgery. She joins a number of other singers over the past few years who had to cancel/postpone their tours due to such vocal cord…

7/06/2015 0

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How Much Can You Insure Your Vocal Cords For?

Image courtesy of phasinphoto at FreeDigitalPhotos.net If you are a professional singer, it could be in the millions... Although neither singer has ever confirmed these rumors... Bruce Springsteen supposedly insured his vocal cords for a $5.7 million policy in 1988. Adam Lambert was rumored to have insured his vocal cords for $48 million. Both policies allegedly provided by Lloyd's of London . I wonder how much mine would be valued at? Given popular singers have been dropping …

7/04/2015 0

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Lead Singer Chad Kroeger Has Vocal Cord Cyst

Image by Thakingdome of Wikipedia Media  reported June 23, 2015 that Nickelback is canceling its 2015 tour due to lead singer's Chad Kroeger suffering from a vocal cord cyst .  He will be undergoing surgery to excise this cyst sometime in July 2015 and will need to be on voice rest . He joins a number of other singers over the past few years who had to cancel their tours due to such vocal cord problems including: • Sam Smith - April 2015 •  Nathan Sykes  - April 2013 •  Nicki M…

6/27/2015 0

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Sam Smith Cancels Australian Tour Due To Vocal Cord Hemorrhage

Image by marcen27 of Wikipedia Media reported April 28, 2015 that Sam Smith suffered from vocal cord hemorrhage forcing him to cancel his Australian tour on doctor's orders due to potential risk of permanently damaging his voice. This is the same reason that Adele had to cancel her tour back in October 2011. He joins a number of other singers over the past few years who had to cancel their tours due to such vocal cord problems including: • Nathan Sykes - April 2013 • Nicki Mana…

4/29/2015 0

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Professional Singers' Vocal Issues after Thyroid Surgery

A study out of Harvard presented the typical vocal outcomes after thyroid surgery in professional singers. No other study has ever looked at this special patient population who are the Olympic athletes of the voice. Non-singers may be completely unaware of any subtle issues with the voice after thyroid surgery . However, for professional singers, even the slightest vocal quiver could be professionally unacceptable. The main issue with thyroid surgery as it pertains to the voice is that t…

3/27/2015 1

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Joan Rivers Underwent Unplanned Vocal Cord Biopsy Without Consent

Image by  David Shankbone  of  Wikipedia When it was first reported 8/28/14 that comedian Joan Rivers suffered some type of respiratory arrest during some type of sedated endoscopic procedure, it was unclear exactly what was done and what happened. According to initial reports, the endoscopy was done to "check her vocal cords." Media reports have emerged citing an anonymous source that state an unplanned, un-consented vocal cord biopsy was done during the planned endoscopy pr…

9/10/2014 1

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Joan Rivers Suffers Respiratory Arrest During "Throat" Procedure

Image by David Shankbone of Wikipedia It was reported today 8/28/14 that comedian Joan Rivers suffered some type of respiratory arrest during some type of sedated endoscopic procedure. According to reports, the endoscopy was done to "check her vocal cords." It was also reported that this procedure was performed at Yorkville Endoscopy in New York City. Just based on this limited information released to the public, I suspect the following... 1) The endoscopy procedure was pr…

8/28/2014 9

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Beatboxing Protective of the Vocal Cords?

Beatboxing is a popular vocal percussion technique that incorporates use of the entire vocal tract. Recently, research by Dr. Steven Simms (who I had the pleasure of working with briefly when we were both at Yale University in the 1990s) suggested that beatboxing techniques may actually protect against vocal cord injury. Unlike singing where most of the sustained energy is directed at the vocal cord level, beatboxing makes extensive use of the entire vocal tract, especially the muscles of…

12/28/2013 0

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Lawsuit for Botched Laser Vocal Cord Surgery

In February 2012, an ENT surgeon removed vocal cord polyps using a laser while the patient was asleep with a Medtronic Laser-Shield II endotracheal tube. Unfortunately, the laser perforated the endotracheal tube, ignited the 100% oxygen being used at the time resulting in catastrophic burns to the patient. [ link ] Subsequent lawsuit resulted in favor of the patient who received an award totaling $30 million on 12/5/13. What Happened? Even though an endotracheal tube meant for use with…

12/11/2013 0

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Reflux Increases Risk of Throat Cancer by 78%

Brown University researchers found that frequent heartburn was an independent risk factor for not only esophageal cancer but also cancer of the throat and vocal cords. This conclusion was based on a large population study involving 631 patients with throat cancer and 1,234 without throat cancer as a control group. The study group also did not heavily smoke, drink, or have HPV (other independent risk factors for throat cancer). Individuals with frequent heartburn were found to have a 78%…

5/24/2013 1

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Pitch Perfect's Vocal Cord Nodules

Becca (played by Anna Kendrick) In the hilarious movie Pitch Perfect , Becca played by the lovely Anna Kendrick participates in an all-female a capella singing group. During a critical juncture in the movie, one of the soloist Chloe (played by Brittany Snow ) reveals she had been living (and singing) with vocal cord nodules . The movie implies that Chloe's vocal cord nodules were surgically removed and that perhaps days later, she resumed singing, though not recovered to the degre…

5/21/2013 2

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