Functional aphonia

Definition:

Functional aphonia is defined as loss of speech suffered by the patient without any attributable organic cause. Patient afflicted by this condition suddenly loses voice / sometimes voice gets reduced to a whisper. These patients don't suffer from hoarseness of voice.

Aetiology:

This condition is caused by sudden psychological trauma / emotional shock. Affected patients are mostly more than 15 years of age. Females are commonly affected.

Symptoms:

Aphonia: Patient suddenly loses voice / sometimes voice gets reduced to a whisper. There is no hoarseness of voice. Importantly these patients are able to cough normally. These patients normally have associated psychological problems. These patients may have pain in the neck.

On examination:

Vocal cords are normal. On phonation they don't come into contact with each other. These cords normally adduct during coughing.

This condition should be differentiated from other organic causes of aphonia.

Treatment:

1. Reassurance

2. Psychotherapy

3. Speech therapy