Psychogenic

Cause:

Conversion Dysphonia/Aphonia , this disorder can manifest when there is a psychological trauma or event that occurs. These events can cause a person to lose their ability to speak (Aphonia) or change their voice quality (Conversion Dysphonia).  Events can include: death or an accident.

The event can also be a long term psychological event, something that the person experiences in the past or in a chronic fashion such as, sexual or emotional abuse, and neglect, or depression and anxiety/stress-  which can cause an alteration of the voice Conversion Dysphonia) or cause the person to lose their voice (Aphonia).

Symptoms:

The voice can have varying characteristics and symptoms unique to each person, some symptoms may not be mentioned:

• pitch: high to low
• volume: loud to soft
• breathy
• strained

Click here for a sample of this disorder.

Treatment:

Functional voice therapy can be helpful, but often times the voice disorder will not resolve unless the person undergoes functional voice therapy in addition to counseling. Sometimes surgery will be helpful or Botox injections, however then it may be another cause for the disorder


References:

Aronson, A.(1990) Clinical Voice Disorders an interdisciplinary approach (3rd Ed.) Thieme Medical Publishers Medical Inc.: New York

 Koufman JA, Isaacson G. The spectrum of vocal dysfunction. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. Oct 1991;24(5):985-8.

Baker, J. (2003).   Psychogenic voice disorders and traumatic stress experience: a discussion paper with two case reports. Journal of Voice. 17(3)     308-318

http://www.edgarcayce.org/are/holistic_health/data/prapho3.html

http://www.lionsvoiceclinic.umn.edu/page3b.htm
 

http://www.pediastaff.com/resources-dysphonia-muscle-tension-dysphonia-pediatric-implications--october-2009