Aphonia - Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Aphonia is the extreme form of a functional voice disorder. It is considered more severe than dysphonia. There are many reasons why this may happen. Basically, any injury or condition that prevents the vocal cords (called vocal folds in speech-language pathology), the paired bands of muscle tissue positioned over the trachea (windpipe), from coming together and vibrating will have the potential to make a person unable to speak. When a person prepares to speak, the vocal folds come together over the trachea and vibrate due to the airflow from the lungs. This mechanism produces the sound of the voice. If the vocal folds cannot meet together to vibrate, sound will not be produced. Aphonia may vary over time (i.e. become worse at night, become better after sleep, occur sporadically for no apparent reason, etc.). Poor eliminations can bring about disturbances and sometimes are the primary cause of aphonia; this build-up of wastes within the bloodstream becomes a toxic force and makes it necessary for the body to achieve its own balance after a lapse of time. When this comes about, the throat and larynx area might be disassociated in function from the rest of the body, and the forces there bring about local inflammation in an effort to achieve balance. Vocal fold paralysis may also occur as the result of a disturbance in the function of nerves that reach the larynx ("voice box"-contains the vocal folds and other muscles, tissues) due to heart surgery; these nerves run a course located near the heart.

Some voice disorders are idiopathic and may occur due to stress. Vocal abuse (e.g., smoking, drinking excessive caffeine or alcohol, excessive exposure to fumes/toxins, etc.) is another potential cause of aphonia. Fear also is often a concomitant and a contributor. Therapy should first be aimed at correcting those conditions which might produce a disturbance in the centers of coordination between the three nervous systems. Then the overtaxed nerve forces of the body as a whole should be relieved, the incoordination which has been a factor in the disease process should be eliminated, and the forces of the body should be coordinated. General therapy should first be aimed at a cleansing of the system with special reference to the hepatic circulation. Osteopathic manipulations and neuropathic manipulations are both recommended, but in differing degrees. Hypersensitive nervous systems must be handled cautiously and gently.  Hypnosis was mentioned but was to be used. Surgery and therapy or either one of these may be recommended. The diet should be corrected and sufficient stimulus of a medicinal nature should be added to keep the body in a normal force. Some cases that are psychological - where the body is amenable to suggestion - would benefit by suggestive therapy.

Causes of Aphonia

Common Causes and Risk factors of Aphonia

• Injuries.
• Poor eliminations.
• Psychological factors.

Signs and Symptoms of Aphonia

Common Sign and Symptoms of Aphonia

• Loss of speech.
• Aphasia.
• Confusion.

Treatment for Aphonia

Common Treatment of Aphonia

• General therapy should first be aimed at a cleansing of the system with special reference to the hepatic circulation. 
• Osteopathic manipulations and neuropathic manipulations are both recommended, but in differing degrees. 
• Hypersensitive nervous systems must be handled cautiously and gently. 
• Hypnosis was mentioned but was to be used.
• Surgery and therapy or either one of these may be recommended. Therapy is usually brief.
• Diet should be corrected and sufficient stimulus.
• Some cases that are psychological - where the body is amenable to suggestion - would benefit by suggestive therapy.