A flexible patch could help people with voice disorders talk
It would convert vocal-cord movements into sound
The human voice, with all its power to mesmerise audiences, woo loved ones and irritate neighbours, is a delicate thing. Each person’s distinctive sound is produced when air from the lungs causes the vocal cords, folds of muscle tissue in the larynx, to vibrate. These vocal cords can easily get damaged by stress, infections, or overuse. It is not just overzealous performers who are at risk of straining their voiceboxes—according to a 2005 study, 30% of the population will experience a voice disorder at some point in their life.
This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “So to speak”
From the March 16th 2024 edition
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