Aphonia

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/aphonia

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the medical definition?The complete inability to produce voiced sound
2. What is the categorization of causes?Organic (physical damage) and Functional (psychological factors)
3. Why can people lose their voice suddenly?It can happen because of injuries, surgery, or illnesses that hurt the larynx or its nerves. Sometimes strong emotions can make the voice stop, even though the body is fine.
4. How do doctors check if the voice is gone because of a physical problem?Doctors use a special tool called a laryngoscope to look inside the throat and see if the vocal cords are damaged or not moving right.

Phonation: The process by which sound is produced by the vibration of the vocal cords.
Laryngoscope: An instrument used to examine the larynx and vocal cords.
Psychogenic Aphonia: Loss of voice attributed to psychological factors, without physical laryngeal pathology.