What are Vocal Nodules?
Vocal Nodules are essentially calluses on the vocal folds and are similar to scar tissue on skin after a cut has healed. They typically occur at the intersection of the front and middle thirds of the cords and are the result of either misuse or abuse of the vocal cords. Misuse encompasses behaviors like poor speaking or singing technique or inefficient breathing while abuse encompasses behaviors like excessive yelling, screaming or just talking too much. Current research has shown that vocal hyper-function is almost always an underlying factor in nodules [a] (this refers to an imbalance of muscles in the larynx leading to increased muscle tension and consequently, increased sub-glottal pressure). When a person has vocal nodules their vocal cords can no longer completely adduct, or, come together. The voice can have a raspy quality, and you may experience the feeling of needing to clear the throat frequently as the body senses a foreign object on the vocal cords. A singer with nodules m
