Hey guys,
So I have recently been taking a class in organic voice disorders. We have been going through many different issues concerning the voice. If some of you do not know my minor is psychology and we have been studying psychogenic or somatoform disorders. This relates to organics because there is a voice disorder called psychogenic aphonia. If anyone is interested in learning about this topic here is some interesting information!
(Juerg & Kollbrunner, 2010).
Psychogenic Aphonia
Psychogenic aphonia or psychogenic conversion aphonia is a non-organic voice disorder. It is a psychological issue within the person that causes at first a minor dysphonia. This minor dysphonia causes partial loss of voice, and after time, if the voice disorder becomes extreme enough, they get aphonia or a complete loss of the voice. This aphonia could be sudden or it can progress over time. Chronic emotional stress is usually common in patients with this type of non-organic disorder. Psychological issues such as traumatic life changes, and extreme stress and tension are common causes of this disorder. Most patients are said to feel overburdened with their lives and become depressed and less open toward others (Juerg & Kollbrunner, 2010).
The disorder’s main symptom is the loss of voice. Voice loss can occur gradually or suddenly. The symptoms for the disorder depend on the patient and the severity of the disorder. The most common form of psychogenic aphonia is complete voice loss. The structures are all intact and appear normal, but when it comes to phonating for speech there is no sound production. Some patients with psychogenic aphonia can produce a whisper. Even though there is no voice production, patients are able to make certain noises. For example, coughing, crying, and laughing (Kent, 2003). In other cases of psychogenic aphonia, hoarseness is present with the ability to whisper (Seifert & Kollbrunner, 2005).
The appearance of the vocal folds depends on the severity of the patient. In most cases the patient’s vocal folds are bowed and fail to adduct to the midline during phonation. The vocal folds do meet in the midline when the patient is asked to cough. Physically, the vocal folds do not appear to be injured or damaged. The disorder is caused by a traumatic event, psychologically damaging event, or the voice is changed for a short amount of time (Deirdre, 2012). The vocal folds are restricted simply because the client cannot control his or her voice (Juerg & Kollbrunner, 2010).
There are many characteristics of psychogenic aphonia, but one specific characteristic is the production of a resonant coughing. This distinguishes psychogenic aphonia from aphonia caused by disruption of nerves in the larynx. Psychogenic aphonia occurs in a healthy, functional larynx; for this reason, psychogenic aphonia is considered a non-organic voice disorder. Often, psychogenic aphonia occurs in clients with past psychological diagnoses (Kollbrunner, Menet, & Seifert, 2010).
Psychogenic aphonia can be treated by two types of people: a speech-language pathologist or by a psychologist. If the patient does not know the cause of their psychogenic aphonia, a psychologist may be able to help. The psychologist can help the patient come to terms with the cause of their psychogenic aphonia and perhaps help them overcome it. A speech-language pathologist can help the patient relearn how to use their voice again. This can be achieved by using non-speech techniques at first then moving into phonation techniques (Voice of emotion: The speech-language pathologist’s role in managing stress related voice disorders, 2003).
Psychogenic aphonia is a unique conversion disorder. Although it is a rare disorder, it is essential to understand how to approach and treat this disorder in a client, and to refer the client to a psychologist, when necessary.
Resources
Deirdre, M. (2012). Types of voice disorders. Retrieved from http://www.lionsvoiceclinic.umn.edu/page3b.htm
Kent, R.D. (2003). MIT Encyclopedia of communication disorders. Retrieved from http://site.ebrary.com.proxy.lib.ilstu.edu/lib/milner/docDetail.action?docID= 0225312
Kollbrunner, J., Menet, A., & Seifert, E. (2010). Psychogenic aphonia: No fixation even after a lengthy period of aphonia. Swiss Medical Weekly, 140 (1-2). Retrieved from http://www.smw.ch/docs/pdfcontent/smw-12776.pdf
Seifert, E. & Kollbrunner, J. (2005). Stress and distress in non-organic voice disorders. Swiss Medical Weekly Journal, 135. Retrieved from http://www.smw.ch/docs/pdf200x/2005/27/smw-10346.PDF
Voice of emotion: The speech-language pathologist’s role in managing stress related voice disorders (2003). Retrieved from http://www.londonspeech.com/article7.htm
Hope you enjoyed this! A special thanks to all the CSD girls that helped find this information!xoxo,
SP Girl
Psychogenic aphonia or psychogenic conversion aphonia is a non-organic voice disorder. It is a psychological issue within the person that causes at first a minor dysphonia. This minor dysphonia causes partial loss of voice, and after time, if the voice disorder becomes extreme enough, they get aphonia or a complete loss of the voice. This aphonia could be sudden or it can progress over time. Chronic emotional stress is usually common in patients with this type of non-organic disorder. Psychological issues such as traumatic life changes, and extreme stress and tension are common causes of this disorder. Most patients are said to feel overburdened with their lives and become depressed and less open toward others (Juerg & Kollbrunner, 2010).
The disorder’s main symptom is the loss of voice. Voice loss can occur gradually or suddenly. The symptoms for the disorder depend on the patient and the severity of the disorder. The most common form of psychogenic aphonia is complete voice loss. The structures are all intact and appear normal, but when it comes to phonating for speech there is no sound production. Some patients with psychogenic aphonia can produce a whisper. Even though there is no voice production, patients are able to make certain noises. For example, coughing, crying, and laughing (Kent, 2003). In other cases of psychogenic aphonia, hoarseness is present with the ability to whisper (Seifert & Kollbrunner, 2005).
The appearance of the vocal folds depends on the severity of the patient. In most cases the patient’s vocal folds are bowed and fail to adduct to the midline during phonation. The vocal folds do meet in the midline when the patient is asked to cough. Physically, the vocal folds do not appear to be injured or damaged. The disorder is caused by a traumatic event, psychologically damaging event, or the voice is changed for a short amount of time (Deirdre, 2012). The vocal folds are restricted simply because the client cannot control his or her voice (Juerg & Kollbrunner, 2010).
There are many characteristics of psychogenic aphonia, but one specific characteristic is the production of a resonant coughing. This distinguishes psychogenic aphonia from aphonia caused by disruption of nerves in the larynx. Psychogenic aphonia occurs in a healthy, functional larynx; for this reason, psychogenic aphonia is considered a non-organic voice disorder. Often, psychogenic aphonia occurs in clients with past psychological diagnoses (Kollbrunner, Menet, & Seifert, 2010).
Psychogenic aphonia can be treated by two types of people: a speech-language pathologist or by a psychologist. If the patient does not know the cause of their psychogenic aphonia, a psychologist may be able to help. The psychologist can help the patient come to terms with the cause of their psychogenic aphonia and perhaps help them overcome it. A speech-language pathologist can help the patient relearn how to use their voice again. This can be achieved by using non-speech techniques at first then moving into phonation techniques (Voice of emotion: The speech-language pathologist’s role in managing stress related voice disorders, 2003).
Psychogenic aphonia is a unique conversion disorder. Although it is a rare disorder, it is essential to understand how to approach and treat this disorder in a client, and to refer the client to a psychologist, when necessary.
Resources
Deirdre, M. (2012). Types of voice disorders. Retrieved from http://www.lionsvoiceclinic.umn.edu/page3b.htm
Kent, R.D. (2003). MIT Encyclopedia of communication disorders. Retrieved from http://site.ebrary.com.proxy.lib.ilstu.edu/lib/milner/docDetail.action?docID= 0225312
Kollbrunner, J., Menet, A., & Seifert, E. (2010). Psychogenic aphonia: No fixation even after a lengthy period of aphonia. Swiss Medical Weekly, 140 (1-2). Retrieved from http://www.smw.ch/docs/pdfcontent/smw-12776.pdf
Seifert, E. & Kollbrunner, J. (2005). Stress and distress in non-organic voice disorders. Swiss Medical Weekly Journal, 135. Retrieved from http://www.smw.ch/docs/pdf200x/2005/27/smw-10346.PDF
Voice of emotion: The speech-language pathologist’s role in managing stress related voice disorders (2003). Retrieved from http://www.londonspeech.com/article7.htm
Hope you enjoyed this! A special thanks to all the CSD girls that helped find this information!xoxo,
SP Girl
