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Loss of
Voice
Q. Please indicate the cause of the loss of the voice.
A. The loss of the voice may
be due to an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the larynx
or to an infection of the nerves controlling
the laryngeal muscles. A loss of voice is
sometimes due to hysteria. In such cases the
voice may be suddenly recovered at any time.
Loss of voice is
sometimes the result of infection of the larynx with tuberculosis.
Either one or both of the vocal cords may be
affected.
Syphilis is another
common cause of loss
of the voice.
Cancer and tumors of
various sorts may develop in the larynx so as to cause loss of
power to make vocal sounds.
In cases in
which it has become necessary to remove the larynx
by a surgical operation, it has been found possible
to restore the power of vocal speech by means of the insertion of a tube contaning an organ reed. The voice produced in this way is of course a monotone.