Lawyers, teachers, clergy, cheerleaders, and professional voice users such as singers and actors often develop these types of voice disorders. Much of the chronic hoarseness experienced by children is caused by vocal abuse or misuse. The most common disorders resulting from vocal abuse and misuse are laryngitis, vocal nodules, vocal polyps, and contact ulcers. Laryngitis is an inflammation or swelling of the vocal folds. The voice of someone with laryngitis will often sound raspy, breathy, and hoarse.
Vocal nodules are callous-like growths that usually form in pairs, one on each vocal fold.
They form at the area that receives the most pressure when the folds come together to vibrate. The nodules develop from damage caused by repeated pressure on the same area much like a callous forms on areas of a person's feet that are irritated by tight shoes. The voice of a person who has vocal nodules usually sounds hoarse, low-pitched, and slightly breathy. Vocal polyp . A vocal polyp, also called Reinke's edema or polypoid degeneration, is a benign growth that is similar to a vocal nodule but is softer, more like a blister than a callous.