Health & Care Information
Diplophonia is not a commonly heard condition. Two different tones are present in the voice. These tones are simultaneous and the listener can hear with different pitches. Sometimes, it is considered as hoarseness of the voice. This rare phenomenon is dysfunctional oscillatory movements.
The movement of the glottis involves multiple phases which leads to abnormality of the vocal cords. In a few cases, the vocal folds beat at a unique frequency which eventually leads to diplophonia. Generally, the hoarse voice can be caused due to the escape of excess air through the glottis.
The other name of diplophonia is diphthongia. The interpretations regarding diplophonia are not uniform and the clinical researchers are still researching to find more about this unique condition. This article will help you to understand the basic facts about diplophonia and how it can be treated. Keep reading to know more about this abnormality.
Diplophonia Meaning
Diplophonia can also be termed as double voice syndrome. The production of distinct sounds at the same time is called diplophonia. The prevalence of voice disorders is higher in females than in males. Elderly adults are largely affected by diplophonia.
Teachers, singers, and factory workers are most likely to suffer from disorders related to voice. The jobs which include a lot of talking are highly prone to these conditions. Adults aged between 19 and 60 years are mostly affected by these conditions. Laryngeal cancer is common in males of 40 years.
The majority of the patients consider diplophonia normal and don’t seek medical advice at an early age. But this leads to permanent damage, which cannot be reversed. Diplophonia should be considered serious and patients should contact their doctors if they feel their voice is changing or it has different tones.
Diplophonia Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of diplophonia depend and vary according to various factors. Age and gender are some of those factors which affect the severity of this condition. Speech or voice abnormality can lead to severe problems in the future. If there is a hint of any one of these symptoms, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible.
- The roughness of voice is usually due to the excessive vibration of vocal cords
- Two different sounds from the vocal folds
- Breathiness in voice, actually the signals of sound are mixed with the air
- Pitch abnormality
- Loss of voice is called aphonia
- Hoarseness of voice
- Creaky sound
- Strangled breath as if you have held your breath for a long time
- High pitch or shrill voice
- Trembling or shaky voice
- Vocal effort or exertion while you speak
- Prolonged use of voice can lead to fatigue
- The frequency of cough increases which leads to problems like cracky voice
Diplophonia Causes
The respiratory system provides the normal airflow which is responsible to produce the normal voice from the vocal folds. Disturbance in any one of the following respiratory, laryngeal tract can pose problems like diplophonia. Here are some of the causes which might cause a voice disorder.
- Abnormalities of the vocal fold include muscle atrophy
- The larynx can get inflamed causing diplophonia
- Any trauma to the larynx or vocal cords
- Nerve paralysis of laryngeal
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Phonotrauma
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Chronic stress disorders
- Upper respiratory infection
- Chemical exposure and intubation can also lead to diplophonia
- Muscle tension
These causes may lead to a variety of symptoms that will confirm the diagnosis of diplophonia. Now, the symptoms experienced by the patient may occur in combination. If the treatment plan gets successful, the symptoms might dissipate. The voice quality can determine the severity of diplophonia.
Diplophonia Treatment
Diplophonia treatment includes patient education and counseling. If the patient is educated properly. They will be confident to face this situation and get proper treatment. As voice changes can deeply affect the self-esteem of any person. The treatment strategies include the observation of behavior by clinicians like if the patient shouts too much.
Implementation of healthy vocal hygiene can help to reduce the symptoms. This includes drinking lots of fluids and giving some rest to your throat. Physiologic voice therapy can help these patients. This includes the therapy of the intonation, accent, voice and it helps to balance the speech coordinating with the latter.
Amplification and auditory masking are included in symptomatic voice therapy. Your doctor will recommend therapies or treatment plans depending on the symptoms of the patient. Sometimes it is vital to recommend the patient to a psychiatrist, so they can cope with the low confidence.
