🎓 Functional Voice Disorders – Simplified Study Q&A

🧠 Basics

Q1. What is a functional voice disorder?

A: A voice problem caused by how the voice is used, not by damage or disease.

🧠 Basics

Q2. What are the two types?

A:

Phonotraumatic: From overuse or misuse (e.g., yelling).

Non-phonotraumatic: From poor muscle use or tension.

🧠 Basics

Q3. Who gets these most often?

A: Mostly women and people who use their voice a lot (teachers, singers).

🧠 Basics

Q4. What do clients often complain of?

A: Hoarseness, strain, fatigue, pain, weak voice, or loss of pitch/loudness.

💪 Muscle Tension Dysphonia (MTD) Types

Q5. What is a hard glottal attack?

A: Forceful vocal fold closure before speaking, causing a harsh or strained sound.

Treatment: Use easy onset or yawn-sigh to relax the start of speech.

💪 Muscle Tension Dysphonia (MTD) Types

Q6. What is an elevated laryngeal position?

A: Larynx sits too high, making the voice sound tight and high-pitched.

Treatment: Lower the larynx with massage, deep breathing, and relaxation.

💪 Muscle Tension Dysphonia (MTD) Types

Q7. What is ventricular dysphonia?

A: The false vocal folds vibrate instead of the true ones, causing a low, rough voice or two pitches.

Treatment: Retrain to use true vocal folds and reduce tension.

💪 Muscle Tension Dysphonia (MTD) Types

Q8. What is puberphonia (mutational falsetto)?

A: A high-pitched voice after puberty even though the larynx is normal.

Treatment: Practice lower-pitch exercises, glottal fry, and biofeedback.

🩺 Common Causes

Q9. What can cause puberphonia?

A: Fear of growing up, social immaturity, muscle incoordination, or wanting to keep a singing range.

🩺 Common Causes

Q10. Why does ventricular dysphonia happen?

A: False folds compensate when true folds are weak or injured.

🧍‍♀️ Clinical Scenarios

Q11. A teacher loses her voice daily but has a normal exam. What’s likely?

A: Functional disorder (probably MTD from overuse).

🧍‍♀ Clinical Scenarios

Q12. A singer lifts her larynx to reach high notes and feels tightness. Diagnosis?

A: Elevated larynx from tension.

🧍‍♀ Clinical Scenarios

Q13. A male teen keeps a high-pitched voice after puberty. Diagnosis?

A: Puberphonia (mutational falsetto).

🧍‍♀ Clinical Scenarios

Q14. A client has a low, rough, double-pitch voice. Diagnosis?

A: Ventricular dysphonia.

🧍‍♀ Clinical Scenarios

Q15. What’s the main goal of therapy for functional voice disorders?

A: Reduce tension and use the voice efficiently.