Vocal cord dysfunction - an industrial health hazard

Vocal cord dysfunction has a definite incidence of association with high environmental noise levels. Our study has shown roughly an 8% incidence of vocal cord dysfunction (vocal cord nodules, vocal cord polyps and chronic laryngitis) in individuals working in high noise environments. In addition, those individuals who have surgery for vocal cord nodules and who work in high noise environments will have over a 30% incidence of recurrent vocal cord dysfunction following surgery. Our study indicates that females tend to be more at risk in high noise environments than males.