Prevalences Of Laryngomalacia In Adults: Can Stroke Impact Vocal Cords?

Parkinson’s Disease: What should you know about it?

How does Parkinsonism affect your speech and swallowing? Parkinsonism affects the areas of the brain involved with the execution and the fine-tuning of muscle action.

Speech and swallowing are highly coordinated activities. Due to improper and uncoordinated tongue actions, food remains in the throat instead of getting pushed into the food pipe. This food may trickle to the windpipe, causing cough and aspiration pneumonia. Management included dietary modification and swallowing therapy.

Parkinsonian Speech

Similarly, parkinsonian speech lacks normal flow and has many breaks. The patients find it difficult to articulate words and sentences. Over and above the medication, early detection and speech therapy are necessary. Early intervention ensures the following: the patient’s nutrition, communication abilities, and Social life in terms of eating, talking, moving about, and participating in the community.

How Does Stroke Affect Your Vocal Cords And Swallowing?

Exact features depend on the site and type of stroke. However, stroke can cause paralysis of the vocal cords. This exposes the windpipe to food and secretions. Thus, the risk of pneumonia increases. Apart from this, the voice gets adversely affected.

The vocal cords fail to meet midline, and the patient has a weak and breathy voice. As many cranial nerves get affected, the movement of various throat muscles also gets affected, causing difficulty swallowing. It is necessary to document these findings using flexible laryngoscopy and FEES scope. Depending on the findings, surgery might be required for paralysed vocal cords. In many cases, swallowing, speech and voice therapy also help.