Contact Ulcer Diagnosis
Contact Ulcer Diagnosis
Contact ulcers are lesions on the vocal cords, classically caused by excessive vocal cord approximation. Untreated, these lesions can become callous-like and form “craters” in the vocal folds. The person most likely to contract this type of vocal disorder is a “hard-driving person, who speaks with a loud, controlling low-pitched voice, usually with excessive hard glottal attack.”
Diagnosis:
The first sign of contact ulcers is pain in the laryngeal area after prolonged phonation. This pain will often extend to the ears. If a patient experiences this pain for a week or more, they should contact their physician. A speech pathologist or ENT will perform a laryngoscopy to view the vocal cords. Contact ulcers are characterized by a buildup of granulated tissue and usually seen during a laryngoscopy.
