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The larynx, or voice box, is a part of the upper respiratory tract that is a flexible tube where air passes between the back of the nose (pharynx) and the windpipe (trachea). It is mostly made of cartilage and muscle, and is lined with a mucus membrane.
The larynx has several functions.
- Speech production
- Air passage in the respiratory system
- Channeling food into the digestive system
If the larynx is damaged, symptoms may include:
- Difficulty speaking
- Difficulty swallowing
- Hoarseness
- Voice changes
- Noisy breathing (stridor)
- Neck pain and/or swelling
- Bruising on the neck
- Pain when swallowing or coughing
- Coughing blood
- Breathing problems (can be a medical emergency)
What Causes Larynx Damage?
The most common cause of damage to the larynx is vocal abuse or misuse, which includes:
- Excessive use of the voice when singing, talking, coughing, or yelling
- Smoking and inhaling irritants
Damage to the larynx may be also caused by conditions such as:
- Laryngitis
- Vocal nodules
- Vocal polyps
- Vocal cord paralysis
- Neck or chest trauma
- Complications to neck or chest surgery (such thyroid, lung, heart surgery, or cervical spine surgery)
- A breathing tube in the windpipe (endotracheal tube)
- A viral infection that affects the nerves
- Tumors in the neck or upper chest, such as thyroid or lung cancer
- A neurological condition
See a doctor if you have hoarseness or voice changes that last longer than two weeks for an examination of the vocal folds.
How Is Damage to the Larynx Diagnosed?
Damage to the larynx is diagnosed with a medical history and a physical examination. Tests to determine if the larynx is damaged may include:
- Laryngoscopy
- Bronchoscopy
- X-rays
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan of the chest
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, neck, and chest
How Is Damage to the Larynx Treated?
Treatment for damage to the larynx depends on the cause. Treatment may not be needed, depending on the damage and severity. If treatment is needed it may include:
- Resting the voice
- Stopping the behavior that caused the damage
- Medicine such as amitriptyline
- Voice therapy
- Speech therapy
- Injections of collagen, Gelfoam, or another substance
- Surgery
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https://www.therespiratorysystem.com/larynx/
https://www.nature.com/gimo/contents/pt1/full/gimo7.html
https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/diseases-conditions/laryngeal-nerve-damage
https://www.chop.edu/conditions-diseases/laryngeal-trauma
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3048598/