Symptoms

In the presence of vocal fold nodules, it is difficult to speak loudly and forcefully. The body defends itself against vocal overload. The voice becomes rougher and hoarse and one has the feeling of having to clear one’s throat constantly in order to get a clear voice again.

But clearing your throat brings no relief. Hoarseness and a rough voice only disappear after adequate therapy. The main symptom of vocal fold nodules is a so-called dysphonia (voice disorder).

How pronounced the disorder is can vary greatly from person to person. In general, however, the number and size of the nodules and the quality of the voice correlate with each other. The change in the voice can be described with different qualities.

In most cases, adjectives such as hoarse, rough, covered or breathed are used. The feeling of having to clear your throat is also typical for vocal fold nodules. However, clearing the throat never leads to an actual improvement of the voice.

In some cases, vocal fold nodules can even lead to the fact that affected persons can no longer speak for a certain time.The voice disorder associated with the vocal fold nodules is usually perceived by the affected persons as very disturbing. If the nodules have not existed for a long time, the symptoms subside after some time with a gentle treatment of the voice. However, the recurrence of the disorder and the nodules is common in people who have been affected, which is why a general sparing of the voice can be recommended.

Diagnosis

If your hoarseness and voice impairment persists for a longer period of time, your family doctor will refer you to an ENT specialist. With a laryngoscopy he will be able to observe the glottis closely. Small changes such as nodules are quickly detected and identified by an experienced ENT physician. Of course, swelling or nodules can also conceal other findings. However, the examining physician will decide on further examinations.