Diferencias entre la afonía y la disfonía

The voice is one of the instruments that humanity possesses. Singers, professors, commercials, telemarketers ... numerous works have a voice as a base. To take care of it, it is recommended to follow a series of tips that will help prevent aphonia and dysphonia .

Aphonia and dysphonia

The hoarseness as such, and according to the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language is the lack of voice. On the other hand, dysphonia is the qualitative or quantitative disorder of phonation, whether due to organic or functional causes.

Therefore, it can be said that dysphonia is what is commonly known as hoarseness, while aphonia is the total loss of voice.

Aphonia and dysphonia: symptoms 

Symptoms of aphonia 

• Inability to speak 
• Hoarseness or Sore throat 
• Spasm in the vocal cords 
• Difficulty swallowing, both food and liquid

Symptoms of dysphonia 

• Hoarseness 
• Feeling short of breath when talking 
• Cough 
• Need for clearing to be able to speak clearly 
• Discomfort when swallowing 
• Mild sore throat 

Thus, any problem of the voice that persists in time for more than twenty days has to be evaluated by a specialist in Otolaryngology .

They are benign voice disorders, which do not require surgery and do not involve great difficulties.

Aphonia and dysphonia: treatment

To treat dysphonia and hoarseness, it is necessary to follow a series of guidelines: 

• Rest the voice and let the vocal cords rest 
• No Smoking 
• Keep the throat well hydrated 
• Use cold steam with the help of humidifiers 
• Take analgesics following the doctor's recommendations

Prevention of aphonia and dysphonia

Aphonia and dysphonia can be prevented or avoided if the following recommendations are followed: 

• No Smoking 
• Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages 
• Limit exposure to toxic gases 
• Not scream 
• Avoid whispers 
• Avoid the dry air generated by the heaters 
• Treat the colds properly 
• See a specialist in vocal cords if the voice is used too much during working hours 
• If the doctor considers it appropriate, follow a treatment to avoid voice losses.