DS loses voice for 6 months ... regains ... loses again. Docs are stumped. Any experience???

[Spidermama]

He has seen an ENT specialist. They've looked with a camera and noted that the vocal chords just aren't moving. There's nothing else obvious on them though they are slightly swollen.

He has a sort of dalek-like voice which he manages to achieve by-passing the normal chords if that makes sense.

This is now the third time he's had it. The first time it lasted about 4/5 months and he was 10. He had it last year aged 11 and it was worse and went on for longer (6 months). Now he's got it again and it has been about a month so far.

We have no idea what brings it on or why it just suddenly sorts itself out.

I should mention he has T1 diabetes. Not sure if it's connected but AS IF HE HASN'T ALREADY GOT ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH!!

probably way off the mark, but might be worth mentioning if my own personal - though very different - experience is anything to go by

I took ill years back, including losing my voice for over 6 months - eventually went on to get a Fibromyalgia & then M.E. diagnosis - my voice waxed & waned, but generally my voice became croaky if I over did things - I was told this was common with M.E.

roll forward a few years, new GP for other reasons, though also old- tests for Heliobacter Pylori infection - comes back positive & I get treament to clear it

turns out it was the acid damage caused by that infection that was affecting my throat & therefore my voice - the voice problems came back when the infection did, as did several other seemingly unrelated symptoms - its a long shot, but if you've nothing else to go on, might be worth a thought - good luck :)

Thanks for your replies.

Rockin, not such a long shot. It's a possibility, particularly as it does seem to start after he's had some sort of cold or sinus infection. I'll look into that and add it to my list of things to run by the ENT man. (He's going to love me )

Newyeareverything I am glad life without your DH is paying some dividends! I did wonder last time whether it was emotional but he's pretty sorted emotionally. In fact he's better now than he's ever been since diagnosis five years ago.

I've wondered as well if it's related to puberty and his voice changing. The thing is, the secial down-the-throat camera showed his vocal chords to be motionless, as if paralysed. So not sore or swollen, just immobile. Bizarre.

Rockinhippy he had complained for sometime about acid reflux just before the onset.

Has he seen a speech therapist who specialises in ENT? They should be able to help....

Hi hairt yes he has. The speech therapist gave him some good exercises to help. They're not doing much at the moment it has to be said. I want to get to the bottom of why this is happening but certainly the speech therapy can help him cope with it while it is happening.

Ah good. I'm not an Ent specialist but know enough to know best to see one! Where do you live? Might be worth looking for a second opinion from a voice specialist.

By that I mean a different consultant.

May do that. We're waiting for an allergy test now so if she/he can't improve things I will have to try something else.

Good luck! Reflux is a common cause of voice issues from what I remember.