Vocal cords vibrate to make sound. Vocal cords also close when you swallow. They protect your airway from food and saliva going into your lungs. When vocal cords do not move, they are considered paralyzed.
There are two types of vocal cord paralysis:
- Both vocal cords do not move, called bilateral vocal cord paralysis (BVCP)
- Only one vocal cord does not move, called unilateral vocal cord paralysis (UVCP)
Even though the two are related, the causes and management for each of these conditions are different.
Show AllUVCP can result from an injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve (the nerve that controls the movement of the vocal cords) or the cause may be unknown.
- The child can have a high pitched or "squawking" sound when he or she gets upset or cries. This is called stridor.
- The child's voice can be hoarse.
- The child can have occasional shortness of breath
A flexible telescope is passed through the nose to just above the level of the vocal cords while the child is awake. The flexible scope will give a close-up view of the vocal cords and other parts of the airway surrounding the vocal cords. The scope will show whether the vocal cords move or not.
Unilateral vocal cord paralysis generally does not need treatment. The airway is usually stable with no breathing or feeding problems. The quality of voice may not be normal. The mobile vocal cord may make up for the paralyzed vocal cord and voice quality or volume may be improved over time.
