Aging and the vocal cords

  • Weak and windy voice

    With age, the vocal cords lose some of their elasticity, flexibility and volume.

    This can lead to an incomplete closure of the vocal cords which is experienced as a weak and windy voice. Furthermore, patients often experience increased shortness of breath when they speak and therefore need to catch their breath more often during a sentence.

    As communications become more and more difficult, this can lead to social isolation and depression.

    After consultation, most of these situations can be significantly improved with treatments such as anti-reflux regimen, voice therapy, vocal fold augmentation or vocal fold PRP injection.

  • Rough voice

    Many patients, especially ex or current smokers or vapers, people who abuse of their voice, have delayed consultation for voice issues or have hormonal changes (sex hormones or thyroid hormones) experience an increase in roughness of their voice.

    This can be due to chronic swelling (oedema), actual vocal cord damage or vascular changes on the vocal cords.

    After consultation, most of these situations can be significantly improved with treatments such as anti-reflux regimen, medical therapy, voice therapy, KTP laser vocal cord treatment or vocal fold surgery.

  • Chronic coughing and throat clearing

    Chronic coughing and throat clearing is one of the most common symptoms for which people consult in laryngology.

    Frequent medical conditions causing these symptoms include : vocal fold atrophy, laryngeal reflux, functional laryngitis, post infectious laryngitis, and vocal abuse to name only a few.

    A proper evaluation is key to the adequate diagnosis and treatment of the underlying condition and in making sure that these symptoms do not lead to further, more permanent, vocal cord damage.

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