Dysphonia

A voice disorder characterized by abnormal pitch, loudness, quality, or resonance of the voice resulting from impaired function of the larynx or vocal cords. Dysphonia can range from mild hoarseness to complete voice loss (aphonia) and may be caused by vocal cord nodules, paralysis, neurological conditions, or laryngeal surgery. People with dysphonia may rely on whispered speech, AAC devices, or voice prostheses for communication. In accessibility contexts, dysphonia highlights the need for speech technology that accommodates atypical voice characteristics and alternative input methods beyond standard speech recognition.