Loss of Voice
The vagus nerve is very vulnerable to injury because it’s so long and thin. Damage to the vagus nerve can occur because of trauma, surgery, or infection. When the vagus nerve is damaged, it can no longer send signals properly from the brain to the vocal cords. As a result, the vocal cords may become paralyzed or dysfunctional, leading to a loss of voice.
When the vagus nerve is damaged, it will stop sending signals from the brain to the muscles used for speaking correctly, causing difficulty initiating speech or making it hard to sustain speech for more than a few words at a time. Additionally, when the muscles used for speaking are affected by vagus nerve damage, they may produce abnormal sounds, such as whimpering or crying, instead of normal speech sounds. In severe cases, complete loss of voice may occur. Vagus nerve damage can also affect the vocal cords directly.
If an individual has experienced a sudden or unexplained loss of voice, it’s important to see a doctor immediately so they can rule out other possible causes, such as laryngitis or vocal cord polyps. Treatments for people diagnosed with vagus nerve damage will focus on repairing or replacing the damaged nerve tissue.
