Vocal Cord Paralysis
While many people take their ability to speak for granted, individuals involved in a severe accident could end up with vocal cord paralysis. Unfortunately, this damage to the vocal cord could last for the rest of an individual’s life. Without the ability to speak, the impacts on someone’s quality of life can be severe. Speech production takes place in the following order:
- When an individual inhales, the air enters the lungs.
- The lungs change their pressure and transmit air into the airway.
- This air passes through the throat and travels through the larynx.
- As air flows by the vocal cords, these cords vibrate and generate sound.
- The sound is modified into vowels and consonants using the shape of the mouth, the tongue, and the teeth.
If the vocal cords are paralyzed, this vibration does not take place. As a result, sound production is inhibited, and individuals could lose the ability to speak.
Mechanisms of Vocal Cord Paralysis
The vocal cords reside in the larynx, and traumatic accidents could result in damage to the cords themselves. The vocal cords are powered by nerves called the recurrent laryngeal nerves. These nerves pass through the neck and provide the cords with the impulses that they need to vibrate. A blunt or penetrating injury to the neck can occur:
- In a car accident
- During a slip and fall injury
- Following a bicycle accident
- During a physical assault
The nerves could also be damaged because of a medical condition, such as a stroke or a neurological condition. Without these nerves, the cords will not vibrate.
The Treatment Options for Paralysis of the Vocal Cords
Fortunately, there are treatment options for individuals with vocal cord paralysis. Speech therapists are medical specialists who are trained to help people of all ages who struggle with speaking. They have tools and exercises that can help individuals with vocal paralysis regain some of their ability to talk. If this doesn’t work, surgery might be necessary to try to restore some nerve innervation to the voice box. Sadly, some cases of vocal paralysis could be permanent. This impacts not only the individual but also his or her loved ones.
Watch YouTube Video: Vocal Cord Paralysis – Woman Gets Voice Back. In this video, a throat surgeon explains how a woman, who lost her voice after a common cold, finally got it back after 30 years.
Contacting a Personal Injury Law Firm
Vocal cord paralysis is a serious issue that could make it hard for people to return to work or school. Unfortunately, even with intensive therapy, people may suffer from the complications of this injury for the rest of their life. This can place their loved ones under a tremendous amount of stress. Because of this, it is essential to ask for help from a Sacramento personal injury lawyer. A trained and compassionate lawyer can help by:
- Helping families review the circumstances of their injury, ensuring that all of the details have been considered appropriately.
- Assisting families in seeking damages following their injury that could be used to replace lost income or pay for medical bills.
- Moving the case to trial when required.
Families need to remember that help is always available. Reach out to a personal injury lawyer in Sacramento to learn more. You might be owed a financial award.
Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Personal Injury Lawyer in Sacramento. If someone suffers nerve damage in an accident, he or she could end up with vocal cord paralysis. This can lead to significant impacts on an individual’s quality of life. If you or someone you love has had difficulty speaking following a traumatic accident, please give me a call at (800) 404-5400 or (916) 921-6400 for free, friendly legal advice.
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