dysphonia

[ dis-foh-nee-uh ]

noun

1. any disturbance of normal vocal function.

dysphonia

/ dɪsˈfɒnɪk; dɪsˈfəʊnɪə /

noun

1. any impairment in the ability to speak normally, as from spasm or strain of the vocal cords

Derived Forms

• dysphonic, adjective

Other Words From

• dys·phon·ic [dis-, fon, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dysphonia¹

1700–10; < New Latin < Greek dysphōnía roughness of sound, equivalent to dys- dys- + phōn ( ḗ ) sound, voice + -ia -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of dysphonia¹

C18: New Latin, from Greek: harshness of sound, from dys- + -phōnia -phony

Example Sentences

Consultations with doctors eventually brought a brutal diagnosis: spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological disorder in which the muscles in the larynx tighten or lapse into spasms, strangulating speech while making singing a significant challenge.

From New York Times

He also has a noticeably strained, raspy voice caused by spasmodic dysphonia, a disorder that causes involuntary spasms in the muscles of the voice box.

From BBC

‘If I could sound better, I would,’ says the presidential candidate, who has spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological condition that affects his vocal cords.

From Los Angeles Times

Spasmodic dysphonia, a rare neurological condition, in which an abnormality in the brain’s neural network results in involuntary spasms of the muscles that open or close the vocal cords.

From Los Angeles Times

Kennedy speaks in a quiet, strained voice, sometimes haltingly, the result of a neurological condition called spasmodic dysphonia.

From Seattle Times