American Idol – Vocal Cord Paralysis
Posted on 24. Jan, 2008 by Per Bristow in Uncategorized
In this weeks’ episode of American Idol we were told about the contestant who had suffered vocal cord (or vocal fold) paralysis. So let’s talk about this condition – how it happens and what can be done.
Muscles only do what the nerves tell them to do, and when there is no nerve energy feeding the muscle we call it paralysis. When the nerve energy is partially blocked we call it paresis. Often this happens to only one of the vocal cords and the voice is of course severely affected.
Now here’s what’s interesting…
A person who experiences problems with their voice commonly seeks an E.N.T. (ear, nose and throat doctor) or a laryngologist. This is good, since they have the capacity to see visually what is going on, via for example laryngoscopy, and they can give a diagnosis
But now comes the important question: What do you do with this information?
We need to realize that the allopathic doctor – aka your M.D. – has, beyond giving general advice, only two options at his/her disposal, and that is pharmaceutical drugs or surgery.
The most common cause of vocal cord paresis (this young man likely had paresis, not paralysis) is viral infection. He alluded to the fact that he had been sick. But then we can go deeper and ask what is the cause of a viral infection.
Since pharmaceutical drugs are not designed to attack viruses, your ENT can only suggest surgery or send you home with the wait-and-see-and-hope-for-the-best-approach.
Naturally this is a far better approach than surgery, but isn’t really of much help, is it?
The interesting part is that there are a myriad of ways to help the body to fend off viral infections. And there are many ways to help the body regain nerve and muscle function, even if the cause is not a viral infection, none of which an MD by the virtue of their training has much knowledge of. Unfortunately, large segments of the population don’t have access to methods beyond what is offered at the regular doctor’s visit.
Also, even if the nerve function is regained, the time it has taken with the wait-and-hope-for-the-best-approach, has most certainly created severe imbalance between the muscles. Some muscles have compensated for weakness of others.
As a result, you may, for example, have a hoarser and weaker voice than you would like. Commonly for singers, the speaking voice may be more hoarse than the singing voice, which was the case with our contestant.
So to summarize:
Can vocal cord paresis and paralysis be healed? Yes (unless possibly there is physical trauma that has “cut” the nerve, such as from surgery)
Can viral infections linger unnoticed for long periods of time, even months or years? Yes
Does muscle imbalance occur when nerves are impaired? Yes
Are there ways to speed up nerve recovery? Yes
Are there ways to restore balance in the muscles and get a fully functional voice again? Yes
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7 Responses to “American Idol – Vocal Cord Paralysis”
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Neen
26. Jan, 2008
I have been sick for well over two months and have had A LOT of throat problems, my throat continues to be red though the phlegm is not as bad but now my nasal passages are dry and blocked…
I used to sing so beautifully and it feels like my voice is ruined… I am singing like everyone else.. my beautiful voice is not working… I’ve no idea what to do =( Singing was my life.
bobby
07. Feb, 2008
I was diagnosed with vocal chord paresis by two different ENTs, along with reflux. Got my reflux fixed, no more paresis. It seems sometimes reflux causes trauma to the chords and prevents them from functioning properly. Hope this helps.
Al
14. Apr, 2008
Hello. I am a singer who had Vocal cord paralysis. I waited about 3ish years and no result, so I went with a vocal cord reinervation surgeory. Basically they sever that nerve, and connect one of the other nerves your body doesn’t use(there are drillions) to it. It gives you the best chance of it coming back, and if it does comeback a decent quality to it. It takes about a year to for your body to train the new nerve. It didn’t work for me, but others have had success with it. I’ve got what’s left of my voice and trying to maximize it.
Larry B
21. Jul, 2008
Your Jan. 24th post was the first moment in the two yrs since I began suffering with vocal cord paresis that I was given hope… however, you did not elaborate. Beyond vocal training to help the muscles deal with and compensate for the loss of nerve impulse to one cord (as in my case), thus making the best of what’s left, how can one regain nerve and muscle function, as you claim? How can we, as you say, speed up nerve recovery? Get a fully functional voice again?
Please share this information, or direct me to place to find out.
In my own case, I had a beautiful, supple, and naturally resonant voice for 44 years. Then, after a brief throat infection, I essentially lost the use of one side. The ENTs I’ve been to tell me that the damage may be due to virus but is also due to acid reflux. Acid reflux meds have not resolved the problem. I can fake my way through a song, working the way one would to, say, run on a pulled hamstring. The pleasure and natural feeling of singing is gone. The resonance is gone, replaced witha thinner, sometimes tinny sound. Even my very accurate sense an control of pitch has been affected (I can think the right note, but my control is no longer consistent). My range is diminished, my falsetto nearly gone.
And the act of singing so contorts the muscles in half my throat that it is not enjoyable, and I feel sore and phlegmy for hours after.
You are correct, Per — MDs offer little more than an EMG test to determine chances for therapeutic partial recovery or surgery. I’ve tried threapy, accupuncture, Chinese herbs, acid-reflux meds, and more.
Please share the remedies and treatments of which you speak.
hugo
19. Aug, 2008
I lost my voice on semptember 23, 2007, eleven months ago. Doctor called it idiopathic vocal cord paresis. I’ve been treated with reflux medication, wait-and-hope-for-the-best-approach, then the doctor at about 6 months into the paresis he injected collagen into right vocal cord to give it mass and bring it to the mid line and allow the other vocal cord to do most of the work. That turn sour, as the injections cause cyst to grow. Now im dealling with the recovery from the microflap incision to remove the cyst. I don’t want to give up and also want to know about remedies and treatments to speed up recovery. should’ve i had gotten EMG. should i try accupunture , chinese herbs.
James
12. Aug, 2010
I read this article as another person mentioned and I read that other options existed but what are they and what are the resources to access them? Please if anyone has it send to me at 3679golden@gmail.com. I lost my voice over night and my Dr. says the same thing it is a viral infection and to wait it out. If there are other options I want to explore them.
Thanks
Carolyn
15. Aug, 2010
I would like to know if anyone has heard that maybe total rest from talking would heal this horrible disorder